Democracy: Where are the opposition parties?

It has been observed that the beauty of democracy is the plurality of ideas. In every electoral contest, the electorate are given the opportunity to associate with the parties of their choice.  But with the defection of chieftains of rival political parties into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), there is the sustained fear that the country’s democracy is threatened. Senior  Deputy  Editor, TAIWO AMODU, examines the state of anarchy in major opposition platforms in the country.

LESS than two years to the 2019 general election, the electorate appear  bemused,  as they are faced with the seeming absence of vibrant alternative parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) . Sunday Tribune’s checks revealed that, while the dominant opposition parties are experiencing serious depletion in their ranks, occasioned by gale of defections into the ruling party, they also have to contend with nerve-racking internal dissent, as they are polarised into factions. From the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Labour Party, (LP) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, (APGA), the unsavoury news is the existence of parallel national secretariats and states chapter, leaving their faithful confounded.

How PDP self-destructed

First to experience internal implosion is the erstwhile ruling party, the PDP. The move instigated  by certain governors to pull the rug off the feet of the embattled national chairman of the party, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, was resisted by the latter and it has culminated in rigorous  litigation, from the high court to the apex court.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, led by the former Borno State governor, was dissolved  on May 21, 2016  at  its  national convention held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.  A caretaker committee led by former Kaduna State governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, was subsequently put in place to conduct the affairs of the main opposition party for three months, at the first instance.

But that was rebuffed by Senator Sheriff. Addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt, shortly after storming out of the venue of the convention, the former Borno State governor claimed he decided to stop the gathering of the highest decision-making organ of the party in deference to pronouncement of the Justice Ibrahim Buba of the Lagos High Court which halted the convention. The court had ruled that the PDP should not hold election into three key NWC offices, namely the national chairman, the national secretary, the national auditor.

Justice Buba had given the order in a suit filed by Sheriff; the national secretary, Adewale Oladipo and national Auditor, Fatai Adeyanju, asking the court to stop the national convention pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The three national officers reportedly claimed in the suit that their tenure of office was yet to lapse. Listed as defendants alongside the PDP was the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The three officers also asked the court to restrain the electoral body from monitoring the national convention.

Later events that unfolded interestingly, saw the May 21 convention and its outcome being given legal fiat, by  Justice Abdullahi Liman of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt. The court in the ruling had affirmed its decision removing Senator Sheriff  and other members of the NWC from office.

But last February, the controversy surrounding the conflicting pronouncements of both Justices Buba and Liman was resolved in favour of the Senator Sheriff faction by the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt Division, as it affirmed the Sheriff-led national executive committee as the authentic leadership of the PDP.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Bitrus Sanga explained that in determining the case, he had focused on the provision of PDP’s constitution as it concerns the removal of the executive committee of the party at any level during the national convention, based on Article 47, Rule 3, which provides for a vote of confidence to be moved against any member of the executive committee of the party at any level, at any national convention.

Citing the PDP constitution, he said before any member of the executive committee could be removed by the national convention, there ought to have been at least a two-month notice of vote of confidence motion submitted to the party’s secretary at the appropriate level, who shall then circulate it to the relevant chapters, one month before

the national convention or congress, as the case may be.

“Considering the way and manner the national executive working committee of the PDP was removed on May 21, 2016 by the party during the national convention, it is clear that the provision of Article 47 (3) of the PDP constitution was not observed, and I so hold,” he said.

Justice Sanga further observed that there was no vote of confidence passed on the appellants (Sheriff and others) by the party during the said May 21, 2016 convention.

In addition, he noted that the two months’ notice that was supposed to be given to them was not given. ‘’In fact, no vote of confidence was ever passed.”

According to him, the PDP, by holding the May 21, 2016 convention in Port Harcourt, acted in contempt of a court order, which had earlier declared that the tenure of Sheriff and 15 national officers would end in August this year.

“Because of the failure of the first respondent (PDP) to obey a legitimate court order and its own constitution, it follows naturally that the actions it took on May 21, 2016 during its alleged national convention, dissolving all its national offices and officers and appointing in their stead, a caretaker committee, is a nullity ab initio, and I so hold,” he said.

Justice Sanga declared that the proceedings and everything done in the purported national convention held on May 21, last year had been set aside, especially the reconstitution of the NWC setting up the purported caretaker committee, led by Makarfi.

While ordering the parties to maintain the status quo, he went further to set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered on July 4, last year, which recognised Senator Makarfi as the chairman of caretaker committee of the party.

Justice A.A.B. Gumel said he fully agreed with the verdict delivered by Justice Sanga. Justice Theresa Orji-Abadua, however, delivered a contrary ruling on the matter.

She argued that the decision of the national convention of the PDP, based on the party’s constitution, was supreme. As such, the decision to appoint a national caretaker committee was within the purview of the power of the national convention.

She stressed that while Sheriff, as the acting national chairman, has the power to summon the national executive committee meeting, the power to convene a national convention resides with the national working committee of the party.

Justice Orji-Abadua argued that Sheriff had erroneously arrogated to himself the power to postpone the convention after he realised that he had been disqualified from participating in the electoral process.

According to her, only the national working committee has the power to postpone a convention and not Sheriff, who, after screening, curiously absented himself from the convention.

She explained that the national convention has power to remove and replace any officer of the party and faulted Sheriff’s appeal on the basis that it was hinged on the determination of his tenure. She argued that the appropriate thing he ought to have done was to have challenged his removal from office by the convention.

The Senator Makarfi faction had since filed a suit at the apex court to challenge the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

APGA dissolves into  factions

The ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Anambra State, is equally embroiled in leadership tussle, similar to the war of attrition in the PDP. The APGA battle is between Chekwas Okorie and Victor Umeh over the control of the party at its formative stage.

Last October, the National Working Committee of APGA suspended its national Chairman, Victor Ike Oye for gross misconduct.

Addressing newsmen at the end of its monthly meeting in Abuja, the NWC premised its suspension on what it called ‘’immense constitutional breaches and inordinate practices of the chairman and other national officers. The deputy national secretary of the party, Chief Jerry Obasi, who spoke with journalists noted that the action was in line with the provisions of the party’s constitution and further declared  that  the suspension was necessary in order to save the party from impending destruction and reposition it to greatness, given the circumstances surrounding the party under the leadership of the suspended chairman.

Also axed along with Mr Oye  by the NWC were the deputy national chairman (North), Alhaji Abubakar Adamu and deputy national chairman (South), Chief Uchenna Okogbuo, who were also indicted for several constitutional breaches.

The affected national officers were accused of excluding NWC in making electoral regulations and  nomination/selection of candidates and also alienating  them in day to day running of the party, infractions, ‘’which violates article 12 (3) of the party’s constitution among others.’’

But while the embattled national chairman of APGA had vowed to challenge his removal, an Enugu High Court presided over by Justice A.R Ozoemena penultimate week ordered  his removal and subsequent replacement with Chief Martin Agbaso.

The judge further ordered INEC to stop further dealings with Oye.

Sunday Tribune gathered that the action of the court followed a suit by the secretary of the party in Enugu State, Comrade Mike Alioke, who challenged the continued occupation of Oye in office after the NWC of the party affirmed his suspension on October 5, last year.

He had asked for the order of mandamus compelling the INEC to stop further recognition of Oye based on the suspension as well as ensuring that the non-recognition was sustained by INEC.

He further asked that the decision of the NWC should be upheld by INEC and grant Chief Martin Agbaso who was recognised by the NWC authority to function as the National Chairman of the party. Justice Ozoemena, who had granted the three reliefs sought, asked the INEC to recognise Agbaso.

Crisis hits Labour Party

The once vibrant LP is not  shielded from the crisis of leadership threatening existence of  other dominant opposition parties, as its National Executive Council last February placed on suspension three national officers.

Those affected include, National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Abulkadir Salam; the Deputy National Chairman (South), Mr. Calistus Okafor, and Acting National Secretary, Mr. Julius Abure,. The NEC accused them of what it described as ‘’brazen’’ misappropriation of the party’s funds running into millions of naira.

The removal of the senior officials was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the party’s emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held in Abuja and signed by some members of the NEC. They include, the Deputy National Youth Leader, Mr Gbenga Daramola; Deputy National Women Leader (North-East), Lami Ahmed; Deputy National Women Leader (South South), Hosanna Samuel; Deputy National National Women Leader (South-West) Mrs Olajumoke Awodeyi; Deputy National Chairman, Alhaji Ali Abatcha and National Youth Leader, Ukpebitere.

In the communiqué, Mr Bobo Atare Adou  the National Vice-Chairman, South-south, was appointed Acting National Chairman, and Mr Akingbade Oyelekan was appointed Acting National Secretary of the party respectively.

The new NEC members were mandated to ensure that all allegations against the suspended officials were investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and diligently prosecuted, if found wanting.

The suspended officials were also accused of “unconstitutional and unilateral’’ dissolution of the state executive committees and suspension/expulsion of officials and members of the party without NEC’s knowledge and approval.

According to the communiqué, ‘’NEC resolved to take such necessary measures, legal and otherwise, to purge the party of impunity, arbitrariness, lawlessness, and financial corruption that characterised the tyrannical leadership style of Alhaji Abubakar Abulkadir Salam as national chairman.

“The NEC of LP met on February 27, 2017 at an emergency meeting on the necessity of strengthening and repositioning our great party to play its constitutional role as a viable, credible and vibrant opposition party.

“NEC notes with deep concern that since the October 11, 2014 National Convention of our great party held in Akure, Ondo State, the affairs of the party have been mismanaged with persistent impunity, high-handedness, dictatorship, and crudeness leading to the unjust, unconstitutional and unilateral dissolution of States Executive Committees (SECs) of the party and suspension and/or expulsion of prominent members and leaders of the party by Alhaji Abubakar Abulkadir Salam (as National Chairman), supported by his willing lackeys in the Party as cheerleaders.’’

The resolution of the NEC added that despite its unique strengths and political brand, the party had continued to lose its vibrancy as a reasonable, thoughtful and responsible opposition party and has failed to make strategic political inroads towards positively growing the party nationally. It said the dwindling fortunes of the party was a clear evidence of the ‘’irresponsible, rudderless, corrupt, and dictatorial approach’’ of Salam and his willing lackeys and cheerleaders in the party to the serious and sensitive issue of political party leadership.

‘It also accused the suspended officials of violating section 225 (2) of the 1999 Constitution which states that: “Every political party shall submit to the Independent National Electoral Commission a detailed annual statement and analysis of its sources of funds and other assets together with a similar statement of its expenditure in such form as the commission may require.”

The blame game

While the PDP has continued to point  fingers of scorn at the ruling party for instigating  the crisis within its ranks, (an allegation the APC has dismissed as unfounded, ) no chieftain of the other dominant but crisis ridden opposition parties has blamed  the ruling party.

The Senator Makarfi faction has consistently alleged that the Presidency is the mastermind of the crisis rocking the main opposition party.  Discerning Nigerians are not bemused that the APC relishes the flight of amity and camaraderie in the opposition parties and has been leveraging on it.  Sunday Tribune checks revealed that during the last November governorship election in Ondo State, the PDP paraded two factional candidates: Jimoh Ibrahim and Professor Eyitayo Jegede, of Senator Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi factions, respectively, before a court pronouncement  affirmed Jegede as the authentic candidate, few days to the election.

The loss of the PDP and its candidate in the Ondo governorship election, successor, Eyitayo Jegede by the APC candidate and incumbent governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has been attributed to lack of internal cohesion which created serious distraction for the party. The APC was the ultimate beneficiary!

Speaking with newsmen recently, national publicity secretary of the ruling party, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi dismissed insinuation that the APC was fuelling crises in the main opposition party, to rub the nation of the needed vibrant opposition platforms, ahead of 2019 general election. He admonished the PDP and other opposition parties to put their houses in order as he noted that a robust opposition was needed for democracy to thrive.

He said: ‘’ It is not the job of government to create opposition for itself. But as a citizen, I agree with you that democracy thrives best when you have a virile or robust opposition. Even for us as the ruling party, we don’t want to run a one party state.

‘’We don’t want a situation where we will feel too comfortable that Nigerians don’t have alternative. It is not good for anybody. We were a party in opposition and we benefited from the fact that we had a democracy where opposition was working. We built a robust opposition.

“It was not the PDP that created us into a robust opposition.  So, it is the responsibility of those other parties that exist to also build themselves. PDP is not the only party. There is Labour Party and many others. It is the responsibility of the alternative political parties to build themselves into a robust opposition. But it is good for democracy.’’