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INEC Has Become Fake News Propagation Commission – PCP Chairman, Don Harmattan
The Chairman of the Peoples Coalition Party (PCP), Chief Anthony Don Harmattan, has reacted to the news making rounds on the deregistration of political parties following a Supreme Court judgment of May 7, 2021, saying that INEC got it all wrong
In a statement made available to PointBlank.ng, the Chairman faulted INEC and its leadership, accusing the Commission of becoming a fake news purveyor.
He noted that by insisting that the judgment meant all other parties have been deregistered, INEC has shown itself to be irresponsible and cannot be trusted to handle the 2023 presidential elections.
Harmattan’s statement in details:
The recent news making the rounds that the Supreme Court judgement of 7th May 2021 in the case of NUP versus INEC in which the Supreme Court declared that INEC has the power to deregister NUP has sealed the fate of all the 74 deregistered political parties is a hoax, a completely false, misleading and destructive attempt to overheat the already fragile security situation that the country is currently facing. INEC by this fake news and orchestrated lies emanating from its leadership has shown that INEC under the current leadership is not a responsible commission that can be trust for the 2023 presidential elections.
The issue of INEC having the powers to deregister political parties has never been contested by the deregistered political parties except for NUP who went to court on appeal with the prayers that INEC has no powers to deregister it for which NUP lost in the Appeal Court and Judgement was confirmed in the recent Supreme Court ruling of 7th May 2021.
The 22 parties entered into appeal with the prayers that it recognises INEC’s power to deregister, but that while it was in court to request INEC to follow due process and give fair hearing to all, that INEC went ahead to use it’s almighty power to deregister them by fiat without given them fair hearing. Even in PCP case, a party that was registered 6 months to the presidential election and which made better electoral result by coming third position in the presidential election, we wrote to INEC given it date for it’s inspection, INEC without further replies or call for dialogue went ahead to deregister our party.
Therefore what is in question today between the 22 Parties and INEC is clearly a completely different case scenario of illegal use and abuse of its powers to deregister the 22 political parties who won their case in the appeal court and INEC chose to waste tax payers money in times of scarcity to pursue frivolity by appealing to the Supreme Court on the flimsy excuse that the case was conflicting thereby abusing court process and wasting its time.
The fact that you are a father and produced a child does not give you the express right to kill that child without giving the child the right of fair hearing. It will be an abuse of power if commissions like INEC abrogate to themselves the unrestricted right to kill political parties at will which is not done in any part of the world. The NASS should also pass the same law to the Corporate Affairs commission CAC to kill companies at will if not for political witch-hunting that they have done all this.
By propagating falsehood and false information to the general public at a time of National insecurity, INEC has obviously converted it’s commission to a lies mill and fake news commission which leaves no one in doubt that INEC as presently constituted under Prof. Yakubu Mahmoud is not ready to be a responsible partner in delivering free, fair and transparent election come 2023.
Signed by
Chief Don Anthony Chukwuma Harmattan
PCP National Chairman
The All Progressives Congress has expelled a former Minister of Interior and ex-Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, over alleged anti-party activities.
Aregbesola, who led Osun State for two terms, had spearheaded a faction within the APC known as The Osun Progressives which was later rebranded as the Omoluabi Caucus.
A letter from the APC leadership seen by newsmen on Wednesday officially confirmed Aregbesola’s expulsion.
The letter, titled “Allegations of Anti-Party Activities – Conveyance of State Exco Decision to You,” accused him of breaching Article 21 of the party’s constitution, which outlines disciplinary measures for members.
The letter read in part, “At the end of the investigation, the State Executive Committee (SEC) considered the report of the Disciplinary Committee. Having carefully reviewed the findings and recommendations, the SEC resolved to approve your immediate expulsion from the APC.
“The decision was predicated on clear evidence of your actions, which undermined the unity and integrity of the party. As a result, you are no longer a member of the APC and must refrain from holding yourself out as one or acting on behalf of the party in any capacity.”
The former minister’s expulsion followed a Sunday meeting of the Omoluabi Caucus, presided over by Aregbesola, where the group announced its decision to exit the APC, citing the party’s waning influence in Osun.
Ogun State governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has vehemently opposed the establishment of Sharia Court in the State, declaring it unauthorized and illegal.
He, therefore, directed the individuals behind its creation to immediately cease operations and disband all related activities.
The governor’s response followed the circulation of a flyer announcing the launch of a Sharia Court in Ogun State by the Sharia Arbitration Committee.
The flyer stated: “Alhamdulillah, it’s eventually established in Ogun State. A Sharia Court, which Ogun State Muslims have been yearning for, for ages, is finally here.”
It further invited litigants, stating: “You can now seek redress or have your case adjudicated based on Qur’an and Sunnah by reputable Islamic jurists. The Shari’ah Court, under the able leadership of eminent, reputable and erudite Islamic scholars like Shaykh Dr. Khidri Mustafa – Grand Qadi, Shaykh Abdu-r-Rasheed Mayeleke, Dr. Musa Afis, and a host of competent Islamic jurists, is open to all Muslims, male and female.”
It also listed the types of cases the court would handle, including marital disputes, Imamship tussles, organizational conflicts, child custody and guardianship, and inheritance matters.
Reacting to this development, Governor Abiodun issued a personally signed statement, making it clear that the legal framework of Ogun State does not recognize Sharia Court.
“No Sharia Court is authorised to operate within Ogun State. The courts that are legally empowered to adjudicate disputes arising within Ogun State are those established by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or by state laws, which are: Magistrates’ Courts, High Court, Customary Courts, Customary Court of Appeal, Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, Court of Appeal, and Supreme Court.”
The governor emphasized that Sharia law does not form part of the legal framework of Ogun State and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to upholding the rule of law.
“No law operating in Ogun State has established a Sharia Court, and Sharia law does not form part of the legal framework by which the Ogun State Government administers and governs society,” he declared.
While recognizing the freedom of individuals to practice their religion, the governor stressed that this does not extend to creating unauthorized courts.
“No individual or group is legally permitted to constitute a court or present themselves to the public as a court without legal backing,” he warned.
Governor Abiodun then ordered the immediate cessation of all activities related to the illegal Sharia Court, stating:
“The Ogun State Government, hereby, directs that all persons involved in the creation or operation of this unauthorised court must immediately cease all related activities and disband the illegal entity and all its apparatus.”
He further warned the public against engaging with the court, urging them to report any related activities to the authorities.
“The Ogun State Government also advises members of the public to disregard any summons, documents, or persons associated with the illegal Sharia Court. Such occurrences should be promptly reported to the State.”
The controversy surrounding the establishment of Sharia Courts in the Southwest has been growing. Just last week, the Governor of Ekiti State, Abiodun Oyebanji, similarly rejected the creation of a Sharia Court in his state, calling it illegal.
In December last year, the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria announced plans to inaugurate a Sharia Court in Oyo town, Oyo State. However, following public outcry, the council postponed the inauguration indefinitely.
Commenting on the issue, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, said Sharia Courts would only be permitted if they align with the Nigerian Constitution.
“People may try, but for us, I swore to uphold our laws and the Constitution of Nigeria. If their actions are within the law, fine. If not, they should expect that I will insist the law must be followed,” Makinde stated.
On Monday, Afenifere and CAN publicly rejected the idea, while the International Council for Ifa Religion also voiced its disapproval.
The council’s President, Fayemi Fatunde, warned that the introduction of Sharia law in the Southwest could have hidden motives.
“We have witnessed the consequences of Sharia law in the northern parts of Nigeria. The introduction of Sharia law to the South-West has a hidden agenda of Islamisation, contrary to the narrative being presented,” Fatunde argued.
As the debate over Sharia Courts in the South West continues, the Ogun State Government has made its stance clear—only courts recognized by the Nigerian Constitution will be permitted in the state. With similar resistance in Ekiti, Oyo, and other states, the issue remains a subject of intense national debate.
The Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) has debunked reports about an ongoing recruitment in the Commission, saying it is not true.
The Public Relations Officer of the FCSC, Mr. Taiwo Hassan, quoting the Chairman Tunji Olaopa on Monday night, clarified that there is no fresh recruitment currently going on at the commission.
“The attention of the FCSC has been drawn to information making the rounds on various media platforms about advertised vacancies and recruitments in the commission.
“The commission unequivocally declares that the information containing the commission’s website and the name of the Director (Recruitment and Appointment) did not emanate from the commission.
“It is fictitious and should be disregarded,” Hassan said.
He warned members of the public to be wary of activities of fake recruitment syndicates and racketeers.
He said the commission would officially announce to the public on national dallies and through its website whenever such recruitment exercise commenced.
