Audu’s death: Matters arising

‘Ya Allah, forgive Alhaji Abubakar Audu and have mercy upon him, excuse him and pardon him, and make honorable his reception. Expand his entry, and cleanse him with water, snow, and ice, and purify him of sin as a white robe is purified of filth. Exchange his life for a better life. Admit him into the Garden and protect him from the punishment of the grave and the torment of the Fire.

Out of the debris that emerged from the tragic, perplexing, mind blowing and confusing passing of late Prince Abubakar Audu, only one thing was really certain… Every living soul must taste that bitter taste that is death.

Even before news of his tragic passing had been confirmed, the conspiracies, rumors, theories  and malice had already made their Olympic winning laps

Though I exist within an atmosphere where conspiracies thrive, it has never really been an attractive forte for me to ascribe to theories, which always seem to be inadequately explained by incompetence, when the conspiracy is not supported with specific evidence. There is no doubt tat the circumstances that surrounded Late Prince Abubakar’s election, where he was reported to have a high lead, to an inconclusive governorship poll result to a situation where we was pronounced…dead was, to say the least, more confusing than the bewildering plot of Jim Carey’s attempt at another Cult Horror with Mr Magorium’s Wonder Emporium.

The sudden death of the former Governor of the State who was until his death the flag bearer of the All Progressive Congress in the inconclusive governorship election in Kogi State held on the 21^st day of November, 2015 is just as peculiar as the heartbreaking and mystifying passing of the wonderful and great Nigerian Hero, Chielf Moshood Abiola. But, truth be told, only God knows what lead to the deaths of these men in their entirety.But only The Almighty knows so, as people we sould continue to offer prayers to the passing of these men on the passage that we will all surely pass one day.

For Alhaji Abubakar and all our living and our dead, those present and those absent; our young and our old, our males and our females, I ask for Allah to forgive them and whom amongst He has kept alive…

Behind the thoughts, prayers and well wishes for this irreconcilable leader, which has passed is the legal quagmire presently left in Kogi politics and governance. There is no doubt that Kogi State has been thrown into a sensitive state, which must be treaded with caution.

From thhe legal standpoint, a supplementary election is scheduled to be held within one week in parts of Dekina, Ayingba and Ankpa, however, whether that will take place and take place in a manner that is up to the expected equitable criteria will depend on the events that will unfold in the next few hours.

Section 181 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides:

“If a person duly elected as Governor dies before taking and subscribing the Oath of Allegiance and oath of office, or is unable for any reason whatsoever to be sworn in, the person elected with him as Deputy Governor shall be sworn in as Governor and he shall nominate a new Deputy Governor who shall be appointed by the Governor with the approval of a simple majority of the House of Assembly of the State”.

The position of the constitution was reflected as the position in the Supreme Court in Modibo v. Haruna.  The Governor elect then, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was nominated by PDP and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as Chief Obasanjo’s running mate and PDP won the presidential election. Mr. Boni Haruna who was the Deputy Governor-elect was sworn in as the Governor and the defunct APP legally challenged the exercise positing that it was Alhaji Atiku  Abubakar that won the election and if for any reason he was not going to be sworn in, Boni Haruna could not benefit from the victory.  The Apex court towed the path of the constitution and dismissed Modibo’s case. A clear precedence for the Deputy Governor-elect has been set!

But! Yes, but…. Dear Comrades, the provision of the constitution and Modibo V Haruna’s case is, however, distinguishable from the present situation.

In the 2015 governorship election case, it introduces a situation where a winner was not categorily declared. The election had been declared inconclusive and no candidate has been declared the winner of the election, even though the APC was thought to have been in lead.

By section 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) provides in subsection 4(b) (i) and (ii) that, “where a political party intends to sponsor candidates it shall hold special congress in each of the Local Government Areas of the State with delegates voting for each of the aspirants at the congress and the aspirant with the highest number of votes at the end of the voting shall be declared the winner of the primaries of the party and aspirant’s name shall be forwarded to the Commission as the candidate of the party, for the particular state.

Now, strictly applying section 87(4) (b) (i) and (ii) of the Electoral Act, 2010 it was the name of Prince Abubakar Audu that APC forwarded to INEC as the party’s Governorship candidate for the on-going governorship election in Kogi State and not that of his deputy.

However, even, in consideration of the above provision, within the province of sections 181 and 182 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) the Governor and the Deputy Governor are elected together. This could be interpreted as if the constitution recognizes the existence of the running mate for election, who if elected with the Governor becomes the Deputy Governor in any case. The truth is that, the law is not completely clear and unambiguous here.

In further legal discussion, Section 36(1) of the Electoral Act provides:

“If after the time for the delivery of nomination paper and before the commencement of the poll, a nominated candidate dies, the Chief National Electoral Commission or the Resident Electoral Commissioner shall, being satisfied of the fact of the death, countermand the poll in which the deceased candidate was to participate and the Commission shall appoint some other convenient date for the election within 14 days.”

Although this deferral of law is quite clear, some legal pundits still argue that, the above provision of the law still differs from the situation in Kogi State. This argument is hinged on the basis that the election, which Late Alhaji died had already began!

Now, what will the APC do? Will it inform INEC that the Party’s candidate in the inconclusive governorship election, deceased and the running mate has been adopted by the party as its flag bearer to continue with the supplementary  election? Will PDP and the other parties participating in the election agree with such arrangement? These will be the political calisthenics that will be seen in the next few days. Honestly, Nigerians may have to brace themselves. We might just about to be spectators to huge legal tussles. I do know that it will be exciting times for us lawyers!

We must also be mindful of the position and influence or lack of interference of the political party in our elections. In 2011 the present President, Muhammadu Buhari, declined to challenge the result of the presidential election in the court, being the presidential candidate of the then CPC. The party went to court to reclaim its mandate but failed.

The brilliant, amazing, honorable and deserving Dr. Kayode Fayemi decided not to challenge his loss to the incumbent Governor, Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State in the last governorship election in Ekiti State but we know that the defunct ACN which sponsored him went to the Tribunal and lost the petition. Then, who can remember the Supreme Court sacking Chief Celestine Umehia from the Government House in Rivers State and holding that Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi who was not a gubernatorial candidate during the Rivers State gubernatorial election, as the candidate sponsored by the PDP. But was still declared the governor of Rivers State in 2007.  By these judgments, it is the party, rather than the candidate, that the court recognizes in the victory or loss of elections. This could well play a part in in the Kogi election. The election may very well be alive, so I would suggest that political parties participating in the election… should brace up for a supplementary election!

Whatever the political maneuvers will turn out to be, politics is politics… and life is life. In man’s quest to acquire power, it is so sad that sometimes we forget that and get lost in the things that are important in life. His Excellency has gone beyond the context now and has left behind the mudslinging by politicians, the stress of campaign, the unending caucus meeting, the praise singing of sycophants and the bitter attacks from political opponents. We must all be united in prayer for the repose of his gentle soul while politics remain for the living. Prince Abubakar Audu story has already been written and concluded. Now it’s the rest of us.

‘O Allah, Alhaji Abubakar Audu is now under Your care and protection so protect him from the trial of the grave and torment of the Fire. Indeed You are faithful and truthful. Forgive and have mercy upon him, surely You are The Oft-Forgiving, The Most-Merciful’.

‘O Allah, Your servant and the son of Your maidservant AlhajiAbubakar Audu, is in need of Your mercy and You are without need of his punishment. If he was righteous then increase his reward and if he was wicked then look over his sins… Amen!’

I invite you to:

Follow me on Twitter- @hanneymusawa

Visit my Website- www.hanneymusawa.com

Like my Facebook- www.facebook.com/hannatu.musawa

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel-www.youtube.com/HannatuMusawa

Text Comments on: 08116759753 ***(No calls pls, just strictlysms referring to articles ONLY. If your discussion goes beyond the articles, you’ll be given a warning first. If it persists, it will be reported 2 your network provider & blocked from calling the line! If you continue to persist, we will inform your Network-Provider, together with the relevant authorities to obtain your fully registered details; including your name, picture, workplace and home address. If the harassment persists, we may be forced to take legal action via the courts or media, with your picture and full details pasted on a full page, citing your texts, for numerous weeks! Pls we can all avoid that by just limiting your phone interaction SOLELY to texts and SOLELY about the article written. Thank you for understanding):