Can a single individual like Governor Rotimi Amaechi unilaterally transfer
\nthe electoral mandate of the Rivers State people from PDP to APC?<\/p>\n
If a single individual is allowed to unilaterally transfer the electoral
\nmandate of the Rivers State people from PDP to APC \u2026. then there is really
\nno need for Rivers State people to go out and vote for a political party
\nof their choice \u2026\u2026 there is really no need.
\nI am of the view that more Nigerians will boycott future elections if
\nAmaechi and others (Kwankwaso, Nyako, Ahmed, Wammako) are allowed to
\ncontinue as Governors of their respective states.<\/p>\n
The Nigerian constitution makes it very clear that it is political parties
\nnot individuals that we vote in elections.<\/p>\n
The Nigerian constitution stipulates that no political party will be
\nallowed to govern a State without proper and valid electoral mandate from
\nthe registered voters of that State.<\/p>\n
Using the specific example of Rivers State, the registered voters of
\nRivers State who voted in the 2011 Governorship election gave their
\nelectoral mandate to PDP to govern the State for 4 years.<\/p>\n
As I write this comment Governor Rotimi Amaechi has moved from PDP to APC
\nand APC is now governing Rivers State without the constitutionally
\nrequired electoral mandate.<\/p>\n
The manifesto of APC is strange to the people of Rivers State and it has
\nnever been formally presented to them.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the people of Rivers State did not at anytime vote APC or
\ngive their electoral mandate to APC to govern Rivers State as they are
\ndoing today simply because Governor Rotimi Amaechi is now a member of APC.<\/p>\n
What is the basis of APC governing Rivers State? Where is the
\nconstitutionally required electoral mandate for APC to govern Rivers
\nState?<\/p>\n
Can a single individual like Governor Rotimi Amaechi unilaterally transfer
\nthe mandate of the Rivers State people from PDP to APC?<\/p>\n
Why should a Nigerian go out to vote for a political party of his choice
\n……… and that party he voted for eventually wins the election but one
\nsingle individual like Governor Rotimi Amaechi wakes up one morning and
\nunilaterally transfers the electoral mandate that was clearly given to the
\nvictorious party to another party that was defeated in the election or
\neven to a party that is not known to the electorate at that time like the
\ncase of APC in Rivers State?<\/p>\n
If this is allowed to stand, then why should a Nigerians go out to vote?<\/p>\n
Why should a Nigerian take all the troubles and inconveniences of going
\nout to vote when his electoral mandate will be treated with levity and
\nsubjected to the whims and caprices of a single individual pursuing
\nselfish ambitions that massage his prideful and over bloated ego?<\/p>\n
Again I ask: why should a Nigerian go out to vote for a political party
\nknowing that an individual can wake up one morning and transfer his
\nelectoral mandate to another party that he did not vote for?<\/p>\n
We are already complaining about voter apathy in Nigeria ……..
\nsomething must be done quickly to restore the confidence of voters in our
\nelectoral system.<\/p>\n
Voters must be assured that their electoral mandate is sacrosanct and
\nprotected by our constitution.<\/p>\n
And indeed, our constitution both in letters and in spirit of the
\nconstitution clearly stipulates the protection of voters\u2019 electoral
\nmandate.<\/p>\n
As a matter of urgency, the Governors who have defected from PDP to APC
\nmust not be allowed to transfer the electoral mandate of the people to a
\npolitical party that the people did not vote for as this will amount to
\ngross violation of the letter and the spirit of our constitution.<\/p>\n
PDP must now appoint the persons who finished in the second position
\nduring the Governorship primaries in the respective States to step forward
\nand takeover as substantive Governors of the States affected. This must be
\ndone without delay.<\/p>\n
Alternatively, the irreducible minimum is for the affected Governors and
\ntheir respective Deputy Governors to resign immediately and pave way for
\nINEC to organize fresh elections in the affected States.<\/p>\n
There is no reason why these Governors should not resign immediately
\nespecially as they claim that the reason they are leaving PDP is because
\nof impunity in the running of the affairs of PDP \u2026\u2026 what greater impunity
\ncan compare with their reluctance to resign and leave an example and
\nlegacy for our democracy.<\/p>\n
There will be mass protests all over Rivers State and in Port Harcourt.<\/p>\n
These protests will continue until the electoral mandate of the Rivers
\npeople is restored to the party they voted for and in this case that party
\nis PDP.<\/p>\n
PS: Governor Rotimi Amaechi\u2019s attempt to unilaterally and
\nunconstitutionally transfer the mandate of the Rivers State people from
\nPDP to APC is completely inhuman, insensitive and most wicked.<\/p>\n
It will not be allowed to stand ……. we will never allow APC to govern
\nRivers State without obtaining the mandate of the Rivers people<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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