ABUJA, Nigeria — With the echoes of an election marred by irregularities still resonating across the nation, the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy, COPDEM, has raised its voice in warning and protest.
The organisation issued a communique on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 following a press conference held at the Labour House in Abuja, marking the beginning of its mission to safeguard democratic principles in the country.
In an impassioned statement delivered to The Trent by email, Danjuma Garba Musa, Spokesperson for COPDEM, announced the coalition’s dedication to the nonpartisan promotion of democratic ideals, stating that their goal is to “protect the ideals of democracy particularly free and fair elections, Rule of Law, and good governance in Nigeria.”
He highlighted the distressing signs of democracy under threat, including the 2023 general elections marred by “electoral, political malpractices and gross infractions of the 2022 Electoral Act.”
“Any threats to the judiciary is a threat to democracy,” Musa emphasized, detailing concerns over the APC-led government that was inaugurated on May 29, 2023, particularly regarding threats to the judiciary and rule of law.
COPDEM’s call for action centers around several key issues, starting with the urgent need to ensure the absolute independence and integrity of the judiciary.
The coalition explicitly condemned statements made by a senior advocate of Nigeria and supporters of President Bola Tinubu, which have been interpreted as attempts to undermine the judiciary.
“It is a threat to the judiciary and rule of law for a senior advocate of Nigeria to presume and invoke anarchy in Nigeria if the victory of his client Bola Ahmed Tinubu is judiciously overturned,” the communique warned.
COPDEM has urged President Tinubu to publicly distance himself from these statements and demonstrate his commitment to accepting the verdict of the court.
In addition to judicial concerns, COPDEM highlighted the troubling friction between different government agencies, such as the fracas between the DSS and Correctional Services over the custody of Mr Godwin Emefile.
The coalition also called for President Tinubu to dissociate himself from Asari Dokubo and his provocations.
The communique goes further to express COPDEM’s dismay at the “unnecessary hardship that Nigerians have been plunged into by the abrupt removal of subsidy without palliative measures in place.”
Expressing concerns over a 114% salary increase for politicians and officials without considering the majority of citizens struggling with poverty, Musa called for a more compassionate approach, urging governments at all levels to be “responsive and sensitive to the plight of the people.”
COPDEM’s message ended with a call to all Nigerians to pray for the country in these trying times and to participate in politics and governance actively.
“Join COPDEM and support COPDEM to protect and promote our democracy for a greater and better Nigeria!” urged Musa, concluding with a spirited declaration, “Long Live COPDEM! Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!”
In a nation grappling with political unrest and social inequality, COPDEM’s call for vigilance, justice, and unity may be vital in ensuring that democracy does not falter at this crucial crossroad.
Read the full statement below:
COPDEM COMMUNIQUE No.01, 03/8/2023, issued at The World Press Conference on The State of the Nation’s Democracy: The Current Threat on Nigeria’s Judiciary and the Rule of Law, Held at Labour House, CBD, Abuja FCT
Fellow Nigerians and gentlemen and ladies of the press,
We are not recruited by any party, person or personal interests but by our patriotism and the love of our dear nation. We are a prodemocratic and nonpartisan association.
It is also in the exercise of our fundamental Human Rights to Freedom of Expression and the Press and Right to Peaceful Assembly and Association as provided in Chapter 4, Sections 39 and 40, respectively, of the 1999 Constitution as amended that our association, Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM), is today launching its maiden project, a world press conference on: THE STATE OF THE NATION’S DEMOCRACY.
This is in line with our commitment to promote and protect the ideals of democracy particularly free and fair elections, Rule of Law and good governance in Nigeria. Critical to the emergence of COPDEM is the conduct of the 2023 general elections that was marred by electoral, political malpractices and gross infractions of the 2022 Electoral Act.
The observer report released by the reputable European Union election observers on the conduct of the 2023 electoral cycle is an unbiased testimony that indict state and non-state actors from the electoral body INEC, political parties, politicians and down to the electorates.
These are salient indications that our democracy is being threatened and must be protected by patriotic citizens through campaign projects that focus on government policies and actions as well as taxing the government to be responsive, transparent, prudent and democratic in all its policies and actions. These can only be achieved through functional checks and balances among the arms of government through clear separation of powers and upholding the tenets of rule of law, unbiased and independent judiciary, active participation of citizens in politics and governance, among others.
Since the inception of the incumbent APC led government, inaugurated 29th May 2023, the state of our nation’s democracy is not at its best and far from being commendable. The threat to the judiciary and the rule of law is a major concern in addition to the increasing public outcry over the highhanded removal of subsidy that has plunged more Nigerians into poverty.
Any threats to the judiciary is a threat to democracy COPDEM believes in the rule of law and justice. Justice is the ultimate pillar of any democracy: it must be done and be seen to done.
COPDEM is in support and advocates for the absolute independence and integrity of the judiciary as fundamental to the success of our democracy and for the peace and unity of Nigeria as a nation.
1. It is a threat to the judiciary and rule of law for a senior advocate of Nigeria to presume and invoke anarchy in Nigeria if the victory of his client Bola Ahmed Tinubu is judiciously overturned by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) before the whole world.
The requirement of 25% in the FCT is in the Nigerian constitution not a party constitution. Upholding the provisions of the constitution is a fundamental democratic ideal while its interpretation and determination for all intents are the sole mandates of the judiciary.
Notably, such insinuations are threats to the peace and unity of Nigeria and therefore must be condemned and withdrawn. We call on all Nigerian patriots, democrats and the legal profession to see this as a threat to the judiciary as an institution and our democracy.
We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dissociate himself from such anti-democratic aberrations in line with his commitment to democracy and to express his readiness to accept the verdict of the court whether it is for him or against him and to challenge same in accordance with the rule of law.
2. In addition, a group of APC supporters have also come out to tell the world that “only God can remove Bola Ahmed Tinubu from office”. This statement is made out of sheer contempt and ignorance of the functions of the judiciary in democracy.
The president like every other person is subject to the rule of law in a functional democracy. We condemn in strong terms such unguided and unguarded utterances in the name of drumming support for the President for cheap political goals as anti-judicial, anti-democratic and capable of directly undermining our core democratic values.
3. Our law enforcement agencies and the media are State actors in upholding the tenets of democracy in Nigeria. They must never be used. The media is the umpire who must remain unbiased. While the law enforcement agencies are the players and actors that ought to be guided by the rules of the game and not the dictates of any person or sentiments.
It does not speak well of a nation like Nigeria to witness the fracas between the DSS and Correctional Services over the custody of Mr Godwin Emefile in an alleged case of illegal possession of fire arms while other bandits and warlords brandish their sophisticated weapons and mercenaries, openly and freely spewing hate and threatening genocide.
We particularly call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his government to dissociate themselves from Asari Dokubo and his machinations in the name of supporting the president. It is a threat to the peace and unity of the country.
4. COPDEM equally urge our lawmakers to let the judiciary breath. The revelations by Senator Bulkachuwa, in a senate plenary, of how he has been influencing his wife, a then justice, to favour his friends and colleagues shows the susceptibility of our judiciary to undue influences and threats even from those that are supposed to safeguard it.
5. COPDEM found it necessary to express its concerns over the unnecessary hardship that Nigerians have been plunged into by the abrupt removal of subsidy without palliative measures in place. The government needs to be inclined to masses friendly policies that would put smiles on the faces of ordinary Nigerians. A democratic government should be masses oriented.
In less than 30 days in office, of the incumbent government, a 114% increase in the salaries of elected politicians, including the President, Vice President, Governors, lawmakers as well as judicial and public office holders was made. Any genuine commitment to democracy must put the people first. The masses are more vulnerable to the scourge of poverty and the effects of the subsidy removal.
‘The bulk of the career civil servants and pensioners are not included even though they bear the brunt of the subsidy removal more than the politicians whose allowances and salaries are world class.
A democratically elected government ought to consider the plight of the masses in both public and private sector that are the majority and the most vulnerable. Sequel to these, it is on the news that a 24hour curfew has been imposed in Yola town, Adamawa State capital, as a result mass looting of foodstuff warehouses by people, as was experienced during the Covid19 pandemic.
This is a clear indication of indignation and destitution that may likely become endemic. COPDEM calls on governments at all levels to be responsive and sensitive to the plight of the people. Democracy can best thrive if poverty and unemployment are reduced.
6. COPDEM is taking this opportunity to urge all Nigerians to continue to pray for the country in these trying times. It is equally significant to maintain the values of peace and unity through respect and tolerance for each other while appreciating our differences and diversities.
Active participation in politics and governance by all and sundry is a sure way of protecting and promoting our democracy.
Join COPDEM and support COPDEM to protect and promote our democracy for a greater and better Nigeria!
Long Live COPDEM! Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Danjuma Garba Musa Spokesperson COPDEM
