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…Seeks imposition of election withdrawal fee to end vote-trading

A constitutional lawyer, Chief Attan Anyiam has voided the calls by a group known as Forum of Presidential Candidates and Political Parties for Good Governance (FPCPPGG) on the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to drop plan to challenge the result of the presidential election which he lost.
In a telephone interview, he declared that “No member of the group has the locus standi or morality to tell either Atiku or his party not to approach the tribunal to challenge the election results”.
“Why am I saying this? Recall that almost all of them that are so called presidential candidates made up the bulk of parties and logos that frustrated the presidential ballot papers.
They frustrated the election because less than one week to the election, they all dumped their ambition and declared support for President Muhammadu Buhari in a way and manner that suggest that it was a stage-managed outing.
“I am saying that because all those so called presidential candidate who betrayed their followers and even their conscience are now suffering from sick conscience and hence, lacked the clean mind and locus standi to tell the real and only serious contender in the election not to challenge the process if he feels robbed.
“None of the 36 members of the group spent what Atiku spent during the campaign. Their parties does not exist other than in their letterheads and portfolios only to surface during elections and therefore they should not be trusted as well meaning individuals or lovers of the nation.
“Their call on Atiku to dump challenging the results goes further to show the reason why many of them failed by the roadside during the contest and their inability to see or have facts and figures Atiku has on the electoral process on a state by state basis.
“Nigerians forget too fast. Many have forgotten that this same group was among the few people that saw nothing wrong when President Buhari unilaterally suspended Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen without resource to the Senate as provided by the laws of the land. To me, they lacked grounds to advise anyone on issues of rights and laws because they share placenta with the APC in character meaning that it is another face of APC that is advising Atiku and the PDP.
Chief Anyiam said “Time has come for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to introduce what I withdrawal fee for any elective position anyone has qualified for in Nigeria so as to end the cases of trading candidacies in elections”.
According to him, “If INEC can introduce withdrawal fee on every position, distractive contenders will not even enter the race not to talk of withdrawing close to election usually at a veiled bargain after building up support and voter base.
Whereas Atiku had weekend inaugurated his team of legal luminaries to challenge the 2029 presidential election results, Business Hilights recalls that FPCPPGG had on Monday, appealed to Walikin Adamawa to shelve the idea of challenging the outcome of the presidential election in court.
The forum made up of chairmen and candidates of 36 political parties, who had on the eve of the election, stepped down for President Muhammadu Buhari, specifically urged Atiku to disregard the advice of those asking him to challenge the outcome of the poll in court.
The chairman of the forum, Mr. Shittu Kabir Mohammed, said that the group has started a robust discussion with Buhari and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress with a view to being magnanimous in victory by setting up a government of national unity.
According to him, “We have advised the government to be magnanimous in victory. I believe that will be done. We have urged them that irrespective of political party or religion or tribe, the government should pick the best brains across the land and those who can contribute to the development of the country across the nation.”
Kabir, however, concurred to the fact that Atiku has the right to approach the court but advised that he should forget the litigation option in the interest of peace.
Continuing, he said “We strongly urge Alhaji Abubakar to drop the legal option in expressing his grievances. This is consistent with the counsel of many well-meaning Nigerians including Chief Olisa Agbakoba.
“We also believe that the former vice president has made a mark among Nigerians of means who have positively impacted their communities. We think he has a lot more to contribute to developing humanity and promoting peace and progress in our nation, even without holding any political office.
“At his age, he should now avoid any action and utterances capable of fanning the embers of discord, disagreement and violent conduct. Nigeria is greater than any personal or class interest.
“Atiku has his right and nobody can infringe on his right. That is why we have not said he cannot go to court but we are saying he should not go to court.
“Instead of wasting that time and maybe draw our developmental stride backwards, let us give our nation time for development and let the government be focused on providing good governance.
“We need to get the country out of the wood and address national issues instead of diverting the attention of the government by going to court.”
Political analysts say if Atiku fails to challenge the result, it may affect the level of confidence many Nigerians have on the PDP as a party and the chances of learning one or two new things by INEC and Nigerians will be blocked.
It would be recalled that throughout the elections President Buhari had contested before 2015, he challenged their results up to Supreme Court even against late Umaru Yar’Adua, his kinsman from Katsina State.