•Pat Utomi

Economist and political activist Professor Pat Utomi has reacted to the legal action initiated against him by the Department of State Services (DSS) following his formation of a shadow government-the ‘Big Tent Coalition Shadow Government’, designed to serve as a credible opposition to President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

In a post shared on his X account on Friday, Utomi said that he remains resolute in his commitment to democratic ideals.

“I am heartened by messages of solidarity from across Nigeria on this shadowy business of chasing shadows of shadow cabinets. Reminds me of the Nigeria I used to know. I want to thank all. It’s energizing some want to put together 500 lawyers to defend me against the DSS.

“To worship money and power at the expense of the future all our children will live in, with no care for the peace and progress of those times is condemnable by all of decent conscience. They have a moral obligation to push back on such darkness.

“It’s amazing that we are chasing shadows while our constitution is unraveling aided by those in power.

The constitution holds that those who defect from parties they were elected from MUST have their seats declared vacant. If DSS enjoys going to court, it should prosecute such.”

He wrote, “It was put as a question: Is this how democracy dies in Nigeria. The answer is in the affirmative. This is how democracy died in Nigeria. Where citizens cannot organize themselves to ask questions of their agents.”

A cross section of Nigerians, including lawyers and civil society organisations have opposed a bill in the House of Representatives seeking to amend the Electoral Act 2022, to make voting in all national, state and local council elections compulsory for all eligible Nigerians.

The bill, jointly sponsored by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen and Daniel Asama Ago, is titled: A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act, 2022 to make it Mandatory for Nigerians of Maturity Age to Vote in All National and State Elections and for Related Matters (HB.1930).

The bill proposes a six-month imprisonment or a fine of not more than N100, 000 for any registered voter convicted for failing to exercise his or her franchise during national, state and local council polls.

But Nigerians who spoke to Daily Trust described the proposed legislation as a misplacement of priority; while lawyers declared it unconstitutional.

It is unconstitutional – SANs

Professor Paul Ananaba (SAN) said no country, not even the most totalitarian countries, compels its citizens to vote.“Voting is a civic responsibility; if you want, you can vote, if you don’t, you can stay in your house; compelling people to vote is a violation of their rights,” he said.

For Etigwe Uwa (SAN), said it is laudable as a civic duty for citizens to vote in an election, but making it a criminal offence needs to be looked at very well.

Tunde Akinyemi, a civil rights lawyer in Surulere, Lagos, said: “This bill is not only draconian, it is tone-deaf. You don’t threaten citizens into participating in democracy; you inspire and earn their trust.

Has the government considered the reasons why people don’t vote? Fix electoral violence, rigging and insecurity first, and then we can talk about turnout.”

On her part, Hajiya Rabi Abdullahi, a school teacher from Keffi, Nasarawa State, said people avoid taking part in election for their safety and other reasons.

Chukwuemeka Obi, an unemployed graduate from Enugu, said, “Many of us have lost faith in politicians. They come every four years with promises and disappear after winning. If I choose not to vote, that’s my right too. Compelling people with jail is dictatorship, not democracy.”

A bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to strip the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of its powers to register and regulate political parties, was rejected yesterday by the House of Representatives.

The bill is co-sponsored by Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen, and Francis Waive.

The proposal is aimed at transferring the powers to the Office of the Registrar-General of Political Parties.

The bill was presented for second reading but was voted down after a voice vote conducted by the deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary.

The House also rejected another constitution amendment bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, seeking to establish the principle of rotation for the offices of the president and vice president among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones— North-Central, North-East, North-West, South-East, South-South, and South-West.