Your Silence Despite Avalanche of Election Petitions Worrisome, CSO Tells Peace Committee

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja  

The Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy has described as worrisome the silence of the Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar National Peace Committee (NPC) despite the avalanche of election petitions.

The group in a statement issued yesterday, and signed by Ifeanyi Okechukwu, stated that their failure to issue a statement on the role of the judiciary and what Nigeria expects from the judiciary was an inglorious statement on the process of election in Nigeria.

It said it was public knowledge that the NPC had prior to the 2023 elections engaged political leaders on the need for a peaceful and credible election.
It noted that this led to the signing of a second national peace accord — a promise to ensure peaceful polls — and a pledge to accept the outcome of the elections.

It added that regrettably, what was missing was a post-election formal statement of the NPC on the outcome of the election.
The Centre noted that it was surprising that there was yet to be any informed formal statement of the group on the election.
It stated: “It is a historic fact that elections hardly end with the declaration by the electoral body after voting. This is because almost always the last and final announcement is from the judiciary.”

The Centre added that, expectedly, the 2023 election has not been different, saying all major political parties were contesting the outcome of the elections.
It noted that without a doubt, the top of the engagements was the Presidential Election Petitions, adding that the next in the echelon were several governorship petitions that are dotted across Nigeria.

It added: “It is, however, disturbing that despite the avalanche of election petitions and likely far-reaching outcomes that could follow the decisions; the National Peace Committee has been quiet.

“It is our considered view that the National Peace Committee has failed in a very crucial area concerning the elections. The failure to issue a statement on the role of the judiciary and what Nigeria expects from the judiciary is an inglorious statement on the process of election in Nigeria.
“Without a doubt, elections have three clear steps in Nigeria, and they are primary elections, general elections, and litigation on the elections. Of the three, the last is the most decisive.”

The Centre, however, called on the Committee to quickly address this gap in its engagements, adding that it must be stressed that every Nigerian is looking up to the judiciary.