THAT THE ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION OF NOVEMBER 6TH, 2021 SHOULD HOLD – Prof. Peter Umeadi
The election stated for November 6 2021 to elect the next Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria is the cynosure. It has become the center of attention in the Nigerian political landscape.
It is expected to afford INEC and the Federal Government of Nigeria an opportunity to conduct a free and fair election and announce conclusive results in consonance with the will of the electoral expressed at the polling booths.
Many events have shot up to threaten the conduct of that election, among which are; The sudden violence and slaughter of persons in Anambra State. The threat from the Hon Minister for Justice and Attorney General of Federation canvasing a state of emergency in Anambra State. The rumor that IPOB would order that elections would not hold in Anambra State on November 6th 2021.
Anambra State has been remarkable for its jaw-jaw approach to electoral engagement and it is widely agreed in national discourse that the people would rather file multiple court cases than resort to violence. Now in a flash it has escalated to shooting persons at point blank and to victims who do not have anything directly to do with the electioneering. I agree with His Excellency, the Governor of Anambra State, when he stated in a broadcast on the 29/9/2021, about such attacks at Oko, Agulu, Obosi, Nkpor, Nnobi, Nnewi and other places leaving about 10 persons dead, inter alia “ Finally I urge all citizens of the State to unite in this fight against all forms of terror, intimidation and tyranny. We will not succumb to invaders as I am convinced that no Anambra son will indulge in this kind of heartlessness“
About the state of emergency, subject to the provisions of section 305 (1) to (6) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), it is only the President and a Governor who could initiate the procedure for the proclamation of state of emergency in the Federation or any part of it. The Hon Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation is not allowed to bring to the public domain the fact that he is placing such options before the President for consideration as that would amount to usurpation of the constitutional powers of the President. The proclamation of a state of emergency is not a matter to be flippant with on national television by one who has no constitutional role to play in it. It could attract heavy sanctions. By the Constitution the President issues a proclamation of a state of emergency by instrument published in the Official Gazette. See section 305 (1) (supra). Where it emanates from the Governor it comes with sanction of a resolution supported by two-thirds majority of the House of Assembly. See section 305 (4) (supra). Otherwise where it emanates from the President the proclamation is made before it is sent to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives. See section 305 (2) (supra). The matter is further trivialized as reports from one of the parties contesting the November 6th election offered that the Hon Minister brought up the state of emergency scare to spur the Governor of Anambra State to safeguard the lives and property of the citizens of the State. Meanwhile everyone knows that the Governors in Nigeria are Chief Security Officers in their States in mouth only. On his own part the Governor went to Abuja to complain to the President about the meddlesomeness of the Hon Minister and reminded all of us on television that the Hon. Minister was part of the campaign team of one of the parties contesting the November 6th election in Anambra State. I think that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be operated upon its letters and spirit and what we have here have fallen short of what is expected.
Finally on the IPOB and the November 6th elections, it is a paradox that a group which has been proscribed officially is mentioned freely. After all, who is issuing the stay at home orders which have been widely observed in the Southeast. The election slated for November 6th 2021 to elect the next Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria would be the compass to determine how the people of the Southeast navigate the political waters in Nigeria in the near future. Let us all listen to the wise words which John Rays put in his Handbook of Proverbs in 1670 thus “a bird in hand is worth two in the bush”. The Free Dictionary explains the idiom as “having something even if it is a lesser quality, is better than taking the chance of losing it in order to attain something else that seems more desirable”, and which may or may not materialize.
I respectfully urge all of us in Anambra State, the Southeast geopolitical zone and other parts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to wear our thinking cap and endeavor to allow the Anambra State Governorship election of November 6th 2021 to hold, lest we be like the proverbial lizard who ruined its own mother’s funeral.
Prof. Peter N.C. Umeadi FCArb.
Former Chief Judge of Anambra State
Life Bencher.