The Citizens’ Solution Network in a statement issued on Saturday by its country director, Richard Inoyo, questioned the legitimacy of the voice voting process, wondering if those who participated were actual serving senators and house representatives or just “faceless persons” brought in to support the declaration.
The National Assembly has again come under the radar over its “voice voting” process to approve President Bola Tinubu’s controversial and unpopular declaration of a state of emergency and suspension of democratically elected officials in Rivers State.
The Citizens’ Solution Network in a statement issued on Saturday by its country director, Richard Inoyo, questioned the legitimacy of the voice voting process, wondering if those who participated were actual serving senators and house representatives or just “faceless persons” brought in to support the declaration.
“Millions of Nigerians across the country have contacted our agents in various cities and towns sharing their doubts and reservations about the question: ‘If those who were said to have participated and supported the voice voting, if they were actually current serving senators and house of representative members or if they were just faceless persons who were brought into the hollow chambers of the National Assembly Complex and to its floors to scream in favour of the pronouncement,” said Richard Inoyo.
A proposed Commission of Inquiry, the statement noted, will comprise prominent civil rights activists, journalists, constitutional lawyers, student leaders, trader unionists, and forensic scientists. “Their mandate includes investigating the voting process, examining constitutional compliance, and evaluating the state of emergency declaration.
“This Commission of Inquiry shall also investigate the pre-voting conditions to establish what and what happened before the voice voting was done and to let Nigerians and the rest of the world know if bribery occurred, before, during and after the said voice voting?” Inoyo added.
The Network invited nominations for the Commission of Inquiry from prominent leaders in various fields, emphasising that this initiative is a strictly citizens’ effort, independent of government influence.
The statement partly read: “This Commission of Inquiry shall also investigate the pre-voting conditions to establish what and what happened before the voice voting was done and to let Nigerians and the rest of the world know if bribery occurred, before, during and after the said voice voting?
“The Commission of Inquiry shall also conduct additional investigation to verify if the voice voting is in contravention of the Nigerian Constitution and therefore declared null and void or if it was in line with the provisions of the Nigerian 1999 Constitution as amended.”
It added, “Citizens’ Solution Network shall equally diversified the outcome of the investigation report and the end-publication of the Commission of Inquiry to find out if the Speaker of the lower chamber and the Senate President of the red chamber followed the provisions of the constitution or violated it by virtual of their declaration and utilisation of voice voting during the plenary session on such critical matter of grave national importance.
“Question regarding the declaration and the hurried implementation of the state of emergency by the President of Nigeria with troops moving towards the River State Government House and the sole administrator_ Mr. Ibokete Ibas being sworn-in in Abuja, even before the National Assembly had a say on the matter, if the President of Nigeria, Mr. Bola A. Tinubu breached the constitution or acted in line with the constitution shall be investigated in during the course of the Commission of Inquiry.
“The outcomes of the Commission of Inquiry shall have far-reaching consequences on the nation and the polity of future actions as well as citizens’ mobilisation and enforcement of their rights to defend and uphold the relevant sections of the Constitution if such grand norm of the federation was found to be vitiated or undermined by any authority as regards that specific issue and the planetary section that followed.
“Let it be on public registry that Citizens’ Solution Network is calling for the nominations of prominent leaders of the underlisted communities: civil rights activists, journalists, constitutional lawyers, student leaders, trader unionists, and forensic scientists to forward their names and phone numbers to: Whatsapp Line: 08067212340 for possible consideration for the formation of the Commission of Inquiry into this matter.”
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