…Ayodele Adio

In his seminal work “How Democracies Die”, Steven Levitsky pointed to an interesting but telling fact, which is that “democracies may die at the hands of not generals but of elected leaders who subvert the very process that brought them into power”. He further argued that the “tragic paradox of the electoral route to authoritarianism is that democracy’s assassins use the very institutions of democracy – gradually, subtly and even legally – to kill it”. In Nigeria’s case, it is the electoral umpire, led by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, whose actions (and inaction) are troubling the very foundation of our democratic system.

Although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is an independent body backed by the constitution to conduct elections and regulate our political system, its operations, and its leadership are governed by laws. Therefore, the commission or its leadership cannot act in a manner that either contravenes the Electoral Act or contradicts the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Over the last few months, INEC has consistently signalled to the Nigerian people that only 18 political parties are legible (or will be allowed) to participate in the 2023 elections. What that presupposes is that there are only 18 political parties in Nigeria today that are duly registered.

Whereas, this couldn’t be much further from the truth. On October 12, 2020, a federal high court restrained INEC from excluding the Youth Party from participating in any election across the country. It declared INEC’s attempt to deregister the party as illegal, null and void. The dictum of Honourable Justice I.E. Ekwo of the federal high court in his judgment in Suit No.FHC/ABJ/CS/10/2020 between Youth Party v INEC is worth pondering over:

“The Defendant is not above the law. No person or parties to an action is allowed to resort to self-help when an action is pending in court. The claim that the defendant has power pursuant to S,225A(b) & (c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to de-register a political party does not justify the action of the Defendant while this action is pending. The defendant must understand that the constitution is not an author of confusion. I condemn the action of the defendant as a wrong exercise of might. Therefore, the de-registration of the plaintiff during the pendency of this action by the defendant is illegal, null and void, and liable to be set aside. Consequently, I hereby make an order setting aside the de-registration of the plaintiff.”

Furthermore, on May 11, 2021, the court of appeal in a unanimous judgment delivered by Hon. Justice T.Y. Hassan dismissed the appeal of INEC and upheld the decision of the lower court. The honourable court in its judgment reaffirmed that the purported deregistration of the Youth Party is illegal, null and void. The court of appeal in its judgement in appeal No. CA/ABJ/CV/980/2020 Between INEC v Youth Party was equally unhappy with INEC in its unanimous judgment delivered by Honourable Justice T.Y. Hassan, J.C.A., when it held that:

“This court will not hesitate to sustain the decision of the lower court which pulled down and dismantled the edifice that the appellant built on self-help when it deregistered the respondent not only during the pendency of the suit but when it had been served with and had reacted to the motion for interlocutory injunction seeking to restrain the appellant from the very act it helped itself to actualize extra judicially. To say the least, we find the appellant’s action very reprehensible, the lower court as any court of law would have done, acted correctly by setting aside the deregistration of the respondent. We have no reason to interfere with the order made by the lower court and same be sustained.”

Even worse is that INEC itself admitted this much in a notice of appeal to the supreme court where in its particulars of the misdirection, it noted that “the learned lower court of appeal fell into misdirection when they sustained the injunctive order granted by the trial court against the appellant and upheld the nullification and setting aside of the deregistration of the respondent”. If INEC admits that the court indeed set aside its purported deregistration, why is INEC blatantly refusing to obey the decision? Secondly, can a declarative court of appeal judgement be stayed? Or is Yakub Mahmood simply above the law?

That INEC continues to demonstrate complete disregard for the rule of law and judicial decisions is a deep fracture in our nascent democracy with grave consequences for the 2023 elections. This is because if a duly registered political party is deliberately excluded from participating in the general election, the court/tribunal is bound to nullify the election given the judicial precedent set in the case of ANDP v INEC 2020. Hence, Professor Mahmood Yakub may be attempting to kill the democratic institution he was appointed to safeguard to appease his oversized ego. We must all place a demand on the chairman of INEC to either respect the rule of law or respectfully vacate office as his position can no longer be tenable after violating the constitution and rule of law.

….By Ayodele Adio

When people think about authoritarianism, they often imagine a brutal military dictator who is intolerant of dissenting views or civil society. Although this view is mostly right, what they never consider is that democratic governments can also be predisposed to authoritarianism. Authoritarianism in this case, as the Historian, Anne Applebaum, puts it, is anti-pluralist. Iit is suspicious of people with different ideas. It is allergic to fierce debates.” But most profoundly, Ms Applebaum views this predisposition to authoritarianism as a frame of mind and not a set of ideas.

Perhaps, it was this frame of mind that inspired an anti-democratic comment from the chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Kabiru Gaya, in October 2019 when he argued that “we need to amend the (Electoral) Act to reduce the political parties to a maximum of five. This committee is really committed to reducing the number of political parties to save taxpayers money.” Beyond the absurdity of a partisan member of the National Assembly proposing to shrink the political space in the interest of taxpayers’ money, is the cognitive dissonance that he demonstrates. Because in reality, the biggest culprits of misappropriation and abuse of taxpayers’ money are politicians who are obese from feeding fat on public funds.

Unfortunately, Senator Gaya’s anti-pluralist disposition is not the exception but the rule. It is a mindset that is shared by a majority of Nigeria’s political elite, amplified by the media houses they control, and legitimised by a litany of civil society organisations that feed on their table. It explains why, in spite of an Appeal Court judgment restraining it otherwise, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), led by Professor Mahmood Yakubu, is deliberately and unconstitutionally excluding the Youth Party from participating in the 2023 general elections. For these political elites, what they cannot control must not be tolerated. Hence, to maintain their hold on power, they are attempting to constrict the political space to deny the remote or likely possibility of the emergence of a credible alternative.

The only way that a political class can maintain its hold on power, after pauperising the middle class, vandalising our value system, vulgarising our institutions, and devaluing the lives of citizens, is to, first, perpetuate a system that stifles the growth of political parties with ideas and a genuine moral compass. The second is to raise the barrier of entry into the political class by monetising the process, such that only those with access to state resources (and their cronies) can contest and win elections. Thirdly, is a calculated effort at state capture, where they control the institutions of restraint and dissent, like the media, civil society, and the judiciary. These elites know that as long as they can hoodwink Nigerians to believe that ‘underperforming’ political parties are to be deregistered, or that the country only needs less than five political parties, their hold on power is mostly assured.

How can smaller political parties ‘perform’ when it is a known fact that State Independent Electoral Commissions are not truly independent? They are led and mostly populated by persons that are openly sympathetic to the ruling political party. Can the media or civil society organisations in Nigeria deny knowledge of this unfortunate subjugation of the people’s electoral will? Or have they simply come to terms with it as the norm? But for the intervention of the Senate, did President Buhari not nominate Lauretta Onochie, a member of his political party, as a Federal Commissioner in INEC? How can small political parties compete when the electoral system has been so monetised that citizens now commodify their votes? And when they tell people to join political parties that can win elections, how do those persons secure nominations when the cost of forms and internal party politicking is priced beyond the reach of 95 per cent of its membership? It’s a complete joke and we must call it out for what it is.

The challenges notwithstanding, we must continue to demand for the expansion of Nigeria’s political space and not allow greedy political elites to shrink it. If we allow a situation where only a particular political class dominates our political system, then we will inadvertently surrender ourselves to political homogeneity – one that favours order over diversity. We will be beating a retreat to an authoritarian disposition, where, as the behavioural economist, Karen Stenner, puts it, the ruling class become intolerant of complexity or libertarian ideals which is the engine that drives democratic systems.

Worth noting, finally, is that political parties are not merely set up to win elections. Political parties are often an organised response of a group of persons to local, regional, or nation realities that threaten their identity, ways of life, or livelihoods. Just like the emergence of the Workers Party in Brazil or the Pirates Party in Europe, set up to defend digital rights, political parties are a reflection of the desires and aspirations of a group of people. Therefore, to deny citizens the right to form and grow political parties is to deny such persons the right to project and defend a group interest. There is nothing more authoritarian and undemocratic that a systematic suppression of a people’s desires, realities, and aspirations.

The Youth Party has inaugurated four (4) committees to oversee relevant structures for its primary elections in preparation for the forthcoming 2023 elections. The four (4) Committees include Screening Committee, Screening Appeal Committee, Primary Election Committee and Primary Election Appeal Committee. 

The inauguration of the Screening Committee and Primary Election Committee was held on Monday 16th May 2022 while the National Screening Appeal Committee and National Primary Election Committee inauguration took place on Tuesday 17th May 2022. A total of 30 persons have been inaugurated to serve in various capacities.

Mr Tomiwa Aladekomo, the National Chair, charged the committee members to discharge their duties diligently and patriotically. He added that they should always refer to the Youth Party Primary Elections Guidelines and Terms of Reference for each committee in the discharge of their duties.

Mr Wale Irokosu, a member of the Board of Trustees admonished the committee members to discharge their duties without fear or favour while The National Organising Secretary, Mr Segun Adeniyi thanked them for taking out time for this continued dedicated service to our country Nigeria.

The National Screening Committee Chair, Mr Sope Durodola expressed his gratitude to members of the committee for accepting to serve and also appreciated the Party for the opportunity to serve. In his acceptance remarks, he specified that they would start work in earnest and promised not to take the task ahead with levity. The other members include Mr Mujaheed Ahmad, Mr Obinna Onunkwo, Mr Bolaji Ogalu, Mrs Iyadunni Gbadebo, Mr Jameel Disu, Mrs Dayo Ademola and Mr Tamunosa Jumbo.

Ms Aisha Modibo, Chair of the Screening Appeal Committee expressed her commitment on behalf of her committee to uphold democratic values and the democratic process in the discharge of their assignment. She will be working with Mr Lanre Sorinola, Mr Deolu Dara, Mr Obinna Ogah, Mr Seyi Oluwamayokun, Mr Justice Ekom, Ms Feso Adeniji and Mr Abiodun Olaore as members of the committee.

Mrs Anna Ekeledo, the Chair of the Primary Election Committee in her comments stated that she is fully committed to serving with other members which include: Mr Kevwe Okpobia, Mr Shina Dada,  Alh Abba Najib Iliyas, Mr Kunle Arole, Mr Iwalewa Jacobs, Mr Fred Oyetayo and Mr Aliyu Adamu. She also declared that the Primary Election will not be run as usual but they would work as a team so as to set standards for other political parties. In her statement, the Youth Party will be making use of electronic voting for this process and would also ensure that the election is free and fair which will continue to build the confidence of our Party members.

Dr Umar Muhammad, the Chair of the Election Appeal Committee mentioned that this is a national call and he is ready and willing to serve the Party to the best of his ability. Committee members are Mr Sadiq Abu, Mr Olaide Agboola, Mr Onyekachi Okorie, Ms Helen Attah and Ms Damilola Ogunsanya.

Mr Seun Sule, Chair, Board of Trustees congratulated the newly inaugurated members and encourage them to meet all our expectations as a Party and wished them all the best.

The Youth Party Primary Elections for Presidential, Governorship, Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly have been slated for 30th and 31st May 2022. The National Working Committee approved this in its meeting on Sunday 1st May 2022.

Signed

Ayodele Adio
National Publicity Secretary, Youth Party

…berates Ngige’s presidential ambition

The Youth Party has lambasted the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, for purchasing the N100 million-All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination and expression of interest forms for the 2023 presidential election amid the ongoing nationwide strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

In a statement, the National Chair of the party, Mr. Tomiwa Aladekomo said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has woefully failed Nigerians, urging citizens to get more politically involved, register and collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and join the Youth Party to rescue Nigeria from the grip of politicians who do not see beyond elections.

Aladekomo decried that while several of government polices have not been favorable to Nigerians, cabinet members of the administration have abandoned “this reality in search of their selfish political interest, declaring interests for various political positions, touring round states using millions of taxpayers resources and purchasing exorbitant interest forms.”

He said, “The worst of these insensitivities was that of the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, who yesterday purchased the N100 million nomination and expression of interest forms for the 2023 presidential election while the ongoing nationwide strike by ASUU clocked day 74.

“This is not only an insult to the sensitivity and intelligence of Nigerians and the thousands of students who are idling away at home but a portrayal of the priorities of some of these individuals who claim to be running in the interest of Nigerians. How can one claim to have the capacity to fix the country’s problems but spectacularly failed to fix the problem of a single ministry?

The party chair stated, “Isn’t it also embarrassing that the Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige can be declaring for President when all four university-based unions, including ASUU, NASU, SSANU are on strike for various intangible reasons?

“You can see that there is a huge disconnect between our leaders and the people they claim to lead and it is bewildering to say the least.

“We must not leave our fate and our dear country in the hands of greedy and selfish politicians. Nigerians must get politically involved, register and collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and join the Youth Party to rescue Nigeria from the grip of these politicians who do not see beyond the election,” he charged.

We regret to announce the demise of one of our founders, a Member of the Board of Trustees and Pillar of our great Party,

Francis Toluleke Akinlotan (Umar Sokoto), who passed away Friday 8th April 2022, at 40 years old. He was born on 2nd April, 1982, in Sokoto State. He was survived by aged parents,  wife and two children.

Francis was selfless, committed, loyal, and an integral member of the leadership of our Party. He traveled the length and breadth of Nigeria in the course of propagating the ideology of our great Party: recruiting members, conducting inductions, organizing screenings, primary elections, and many others. He was a detribalized Nigerian: an exemplary symbol of One Nigeria.

Mr. Francis Akinlotan attended Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, where he obtained LLB. Law (Second Class Upper Division) between 2001 and 2007. He proceeded to Nigeria Law School, Kano Campus, where he also graduated with Second Class Upper Division in the year 2008. He is also a Graduate, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, UK and a Member of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.

He was an activist student as he served in different capacity ranging from Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Federation of Catholic Students, Nigerian Law School (2007 – 2008), Speaker, Law Students Representative, Council, Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (2006 – 2007) and Public Relations Officer, Association of Campus Journalists, Obafemi Awolowo University (2005 – 2007).

He started his career as an intern at the Ministry of Justice, Lagos (March 2007 – May 2007), then worked as an intern as part of the requirement for Law School attachment at W.K. Shittu & Co. Lagos. He was an associate and NYSC member at Shina Agbesusi & Co. (Legal Practitioners) between October 2008 and July 2009. Also an associate at Jite Olatunbode & Co. (Legal Practitioners), between October 2009 and December 2009 and Nextzon Businesss Services Limited (February 2010 to August 2010). At New Resource Perfekta Group he was a Legal Adviser and Business Development  Officer(September 2010 till date). He started as an Associate at Probitas Partner in 2010 and rose to the position of a Partner.

Francis’ selfless nature made him offer pro bono legal services to indigent and seemingly  innocent inmates, whose circumstances have kept them in jail. Through this he was able to successfully ensure the acquittal of an inmate standing murder trial who had been held for over seven (7) years but had never been charged to Court.

At Youth Party, he combined his excellent research and analytical skills to lead conversations that advocate policies that support growth and development in the country. He engaged in uncountable trips across the Country for the Party, regular Courts appearance, visits to INEC office pre-registration and post-registration, late night meetings and financial contributions all for the success of the Party. He was an energetic grassroots mobilizer and political orator and campaigner per excellence. 

Francis will be sorely missed by our Party and Nigeria. May his patriotic and selfless soul Rest in Perfect Peace. The condolence registers are  available at our HQ in Abuja and our Lagos office. He will be buried in Lagos on Wednesday, 20th April, 2022

He is survived by aged parents, wife, children, siblings, and numerous associates across Nigeria

Funeral Arrangements

Youth Party Tributes

Sunday, 17th April,2022

Time: 4pm

Location: Lagos Office and Virtual (https://bit.ly/YouthPartyforFrancis )

Service of Songs

St Anthony Catholic Church

AIT Road, Alagbado, Lagos

Monday, 18th April,2 022

Time:7pm

Funeral Mass

Tuesday, 19th April,2022

Church of Assumption

Falomo, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Time: 10am

Interment follows immediately at

Ikoyi Cemetery

You can leave your tribute at https://francisakinlotan.muchloved.com/

We regret to announce the demise of one of our founders, a Member of the Board of Trustees and Pillar of our great Party,
Francis Toluleke Akinlotan, passed away yesterday, Friday 8th April 2022, at 40 years old.

Francis was selfless, committed, loyal, and an integral member of the leadership of our Party. He traveled the length and breadth of Nigeria in the course of propagating the ideology of our great Party: recruiting members, conducting inductions, organizing screenings, primary elections, and many others. He was a detribalized Nigerian: an exemplary symbol of One Nigeria.

Francis will be sorely missed by our Party and Nigeria. May his patriotic and selfless soul Rest in Perfect Peace. The condolence register will be available at our HQ in Abuja and our Lagos office on Wednesday 13th April 2022.

The Youth Party, a political party registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is set to conduct its Primary Elections in preparation for the 2023 general elections.

The Party’s National Organising Secretary, Mr. Segun Adeniyi, announced that in conformity with the INEC Guidelines on the conduct of party primaries, the Youth Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) has issued guidelines for the conduct of the Party’s primaries.

Read More about the Youth Party 2023 Election Primaries here https://bit.ly/3DlU78z

See our Guidelines for Primaries here https://bit.ly/3EJrAKQ

On the 14 February 2022, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on a one-month nationwide warning strike and yesterday, 13 March 2022, the Union resolved to roll-over the strike for another eight (8) weeks which will once again see teaching and learning halted in all public universities in the country due to the failure of the government to fulfill its undertakings and implement the Memorandum of Action (MOA) it signed with the Union in December 2020 amongst other things.

Since this government has been in power, students have lost years of academic learning. You recall that in 2020, students in federal tertiary institutions in Nigeria lost over eight (8) months of academic learning due to ASUU’s strike action and the pandemic — as schools were shut down and the government failed to provide the right infrastructure for technology enabled remote learning.

The actions and inactions of this government have consistently shown that education is not a priority.

Read more about our position paper on Fixing Teritary Institution here https://bit.ly/3JiaxRu

The Youth Party has resolved to initiate contempt proceedings against the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mr. Mahmood Yakubu, “for refusing to obey a Court of Appeal judgment”.

The Party made this known yesterday after an emergency meeting of its Board of Trustees and the National Executive Committee, NEC.

In a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Ayodele Adio, the party described the actions of Mr. Yakubu as unbecoming, regrettable, undemocratic, and unacceptable of a supposed electoral umpire.

He said: “Despite a Court of Appeal judgment in our favour, INEC has gone ahead to exclude us from the electoral process by denying the party access to the voter’s register. Additionally, the Commission has refused to receive or acknowledged any of our letters.”

The party also stated that should INEC continue its unconstitutional exclusionary policy against the party, there is every chance that the general election will be deemed null and void for failure to allow a registered party to participate in the election.

“To avoid a constitutional quagmire, we are urging INEC to do the responsible and democratic thing by respecting the Court of Appeal’s judgment to include us in all election processes leading up to 2023,” Mr. Adio said.

He further expressed grave concern for the fragility of Nigeria’s democracy, noting that the first sign of the failure of a democracy is the abuse of judicial decisions.

He added that “We must never tolerate a situation where public officers can flagrantly disregard judicial decisions or judgments from the court.

“It doesn’t matter if the person is the Chairman of INEC or the clerk in ministry. Nothing threatens democracies more than the destruction and humiliation of its judicial institutions.”

 The party finally noted that it would be releasing the guidelines for the 2023 elections, having received recommendations from the committee setup to review and advise its NEC.

On Friday, 25 February 2022 President Muhammadu Buhari after much delay over
the years signed the reworked Electoral Amendment bill into law. The Bill has the
potential to significantly strengthen the legal framework governing our electoral
system and set the pace for a better and more credible elections in 2023.

The Youth Party welcomes the new Electoral Act 2022 and is pleased to have
contributed significantly to the final outcome of the Act through numerous policy
advocacy interventions. The Youth Party was one of the few parties that responded
to the invitation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a letter
dated 18th June, 2019 to submit recommendations1 for reform of the electoral
process after the last general elections. The Party also submitted an extensive
memorandum to the National Assembly Joint Committee on INEC and Electoral
Matters which was also presented at the public hearing of the Bill by our Financial
Secretary, Mr. Ifeanyi Nwoye even though we were given a very short notice.

Read more about the Electoral Act 2022 position paper here https://bit.ly/3KzT33u