A group of lawmakers drawn from
various parties are heading to court over alleged proof of vote-buying and
gross impunity by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Sani Omolori.
Omolori, who supervised the June
11 election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker in the House of Representatives, is
being accused of having condoned impunity among the lawmakers.
The spokesman of the new group,
Honourable Mark Terseer Gbillah (PDP, Gwer West/Gwer East Federal Constituency,
Benue state), in a statement on Monday, said G-70 was an
apolitical group of House members across party lines who are after truth,
transparency and the protection of the independence of the legislature.
Making references to photographic
images and video evidence being released to back up their claims, Gbillah
asserted that they are only embarking on a principled struggle, adding that
while the members have no personal grudges against any person or political party,
they will not condone any illegitimacy in the election of the person or persons
who will lead the House of Representatives.
“We condemn totally, the use of
any form of financial inducement and systematic coercion to compel towards
choosing a leader in a manner that totally destroys the sanctity and integrity
of the House and the National Assembly as a whole,” the statement added.
“This is what we are fighting
against and we are doing it for the good of democracy and for the good of our
nation.
“We believe that if President
Buhari himself truly preaches and believes in transparency and anti-corruption,
then he should realize what his government and what whom he supported has done
to become Speaker of the House.
“We will explore every legitimate
means possible to ensure that justice is done and genuine democratic norms
prevail.”
Alleging the prevalence of
anti-democratic tendencies, impunity and vote-buying in the voting exercise
that took place in the House of Representatives on June 11, he said that the
newly-formed G-70 group of House members is seeking the nullification of the
purported victory of Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila and Hon Ahmed Wase, adding
that they are determined to tender relevant evidence towards ensuring that the
entire exercise is nullified.
Emphasizing that the voting
process confirmed previous alarm raised about likely buying of votes on a
massive scale, he said that the G-70 is heading to court immediately to seek
legal redress for what he described as an affront against democracy and the
law.
The statement added, “This is the
fallout of the manner in which the election of House Speaker and Deputy Speaker
was conducted under an atmosphere that was rife with allegations of inducement
and these have now been confirmed; for instance, we have evidence that many
members were taking pictures of the ‘Members’ Green Card’ with specific serial
numbers as given to those being induced to vote for Gbajabamila.
“There is verifiable photographic
evidence that can be subjected to forensic analysis which clearly confirm that
members were taking pictures of either the ‘Green Members’ Card’ or their
respective identity cards alongside their respective ballot papers showing whom
they vote for, ostensibly for the purpose of going back to receive the balance
of the monies they were promised.
“From our findings, it appears
that people were initially given ten thousand dollars each with a balance
ranging from forty thousand dollars that was supposed to be given for voting
for Gbajabiamila; the evidence is there.
“Some of our members across party
lines are heading to court to demand nullification of the exercise and for the
courts to declare the election null and void and to seek the prosecution of
Gbajabiamila and all those members who were part of the anti-democratic
conspiracy.
“Members of the G-70 also feel
deeply concerned about the involvement of the Clerk of the National Assembly in
the whole exercise; because when they complained to him about members going to
take pictures, he, in a very unprecedented manner, said it before national
television that his own job is just to provide the secrecy of the ballot and
that if the members want to compromise their votes, it is their own decision.
“We find it utterly incredible
that an umpire in an election of such national and historic significance would
allow votes to be compromised without trying to ensure transparency of the
process and this made aggrieved members suspect that he was already compromised
with the APC led government beforehand.”
The maintained that the issue has
gone beyond conjectures as concrete evidence of how the entire exercise was
compromised can now be tabled before the courts.
It said, “This is further
buttressed by the fact that the laws being used for the election clearly spelt
out secret ballot; however, right in front of the Clerk of the National
Assembly who was superintending the elections, so many members of the House
would go and vote, only to return and display their vote at the front row, to
prove to Gbajabiamila and his supporters that they voted for him.
“Unfortunately, the CNA condoned
what – in the eyes of right-thinking members, constitute a flagrant violation
of the laws and therefore, logically justifies being challenged in a court of
competent jurisdiction because what eventually transpired made it to be no
secret ballot any longer.
“Such monitoring and impunity are
anti-democratic and illegal; there is also video evidence and the issues we are
raising were conducted under the glare of cameras on live television, with
members displaying the ‘Green Card’ openly on the floor of the House and they
were seen displaying their votes.
“It was, therefore, no longer an
allegation but a proven fact and various television stations had it; thus,
members of the G-70 have no qualms about the justness of their cause and they
are going to commence legal action in the courts immediately.”
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