The Nigerian Democracy Working Group (NDWG) has condemned a recent court ruling that sacked the Chairman and five other members of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KNSIEC) just days before the scheduled local government elections.
In a statement released today, Dr. Vincent Okpara Innocent, Convener of the NDWG, and Dr. Idris A. Mohammed, Co-Convener, described the decision by Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Kano as “insensitive, anti-people, anti-democracy, anti-social justice, emotionally loaded, and irrational.”
The NDWG argued that the court’s actions had compromised the interests of over 20 million people in Kano State and undermined the democratic process.
The group accused the Federal High Court in Kano of destabilizing the peace and security of the state through its conflicting court orders.
It is clear that the Federal High Courts in Kano are on a special mission to destabilize the peace and security of the State,” the statement said. “Every responsible person would wonder how could a competent court of law compromise the interest and feelings of over 20 million people of Kano State by truncating a long-time plan to conduct the Local Government Councils elections.”
The NDWG called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere Ekun, to take disciplinary action against Justice Simon Amobeda for issuing such an “irresponsible” court order. The group also urged the CJN to implement reforms in the Nigerian Judiciary to address the issue of reckless judges who issue indiscriminate court orders.
