• Urges APC to allow opposition parties to breathe
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Nigerian Political Scientists Association (NPSA) has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its decision on the leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress(ADC).
The President of NPSA, Prof Hassan Saliu, in a statement entitled, ‘Let The Rule of Law Prevail’ on behalf of the group, expressed disappointment that 27 years after the return of democracy, Nigeria’s negative contribution to modern liberal democracy has continued to amaze political scientists.
According to NPSA, the more years Nigeria spends in democracy, ‘’the more disturbing aspects of it that have been observed in Nigeria’’.
It noted that most of the ugly trends in Nigeria’s brand of democracy revolve around the country’s political parties and the value they add or lack of it to the nation’s democracy.
The group, while lamenting that INEC’s action has rendered ADC leaderless, wondered why INEC, which recognised the David Mark leadership in August 2025, has decided to make a U-turn, delisting the names of its leaders on account of a declaratory judgment of the Court of Appeal.
NPSA pointed out that INEC has ‘’resorted to self-help on the matter three weeks after the judgment was given, giving its elastic definition that bordered on the issue of status quo.’’
It stated that INEC’s decision is a cause for concern because, from all indications, the electoral body had ignored the rule of law in the matter.
NPSA therefore advised INEC to toe the path of rule of law to assure Nigerians that it has confidence in the judiciary.
The statement read in part, ‘’There are three better ways INEC could have followed instead of its crisis-laden path on the matter. It should have remained consistent in its position by continuing to recognise the Mark-led executive committee until the courts decide otherwise. After all, it was not under any pressure to do so at the time it did. The second path would have been to wait a while for the courts to give a clearer directive on the path it has taken, rather than being pressured by one of the parties to do so, which would have carried more legal and moral force. The last option would have been to approach the court for the correct interpretations of its initial declaration in place of the controversial legal path it has followed.
‘’The NPSA, therefore, calls on INEC to have greater confidence in the judiciary by ensuring that the rule of law prevails at all times. Democracy, which the country claims to practice, will be in perennial danger when the regulators of its process are impatient with the law. We also call on our politicians to pay attention to the details of their actions or protocols; a little more reflection on their part would have saved the nation from the situation that the ADC contestations are causing the country and its democracy. The ruling party should allow opposition parties to breathe, as their existence and robustness provide the oxygen democracy needs in the country.’’
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