A Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy has described the silence of National Peace Committee (NPC) as deafening in spite the avalanche of election petitions and likely far-reaching outcomes that could follow the decisions.
The group in a statement issued Sunday and signed by Ifeanyi Okechukwu, recalled that it was public knowledge that the NPC led by General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) had prior to the 2023 elections engaged political leaders on the need for a peaceful and credible election.
It said this led to the signing of a second national peace accord —a promise to ensure peaceful polls — and a pledge to accept the outcome of the elections.
The Centre said regrettably, what was missing is a post-election formal statement of the NPC on the outcome of the election.
It said in actual fact, only the Chairman had made personal statements which were ascribed to the Committee, saying the first of such statements by the Chairman was after he voted, and the second statement was after the declaration of the result.
It stressed that the failure to issue a statement on the role of the judiciary and what Nigeria expects from the judiciary is an inglorious statement on the process of election in Nigeria.
The Centre pointed out that it was surprising that there is yet to be any informed formal statement of the group on the election.
It explained that it was a historic fact that elections hardly end with the declaration by the electoral body after voting. This is because almost always the last and final announcement is from the judiciary.
It said expectedly, the 2023 elections have not been different, as all major political parties are contesting the outcome of the elections.
The Centre said without a doubt, the top of the engagements is the Presidential Election Petitions, while next in the echelon are several governorship petitions that are dotted across Nigeria.
It stated: “It is, however, disturbing that despite the avalanche of election petitions and likely far-reaching outcomes that could follow the decisions; the National Peace Committee has been quiet.
“It is our considered view that the National Peace Committee has failed in a very crucial area concerning the elections. The failure to issue a statement on the role of the judiciary and what Nigeria expects from the judiciary is an inglorious statement on the process of election in Nigeria.
“Without a doubt, elections have three clear steps in Nigeria, and they are primary elections, general elections, and litigation on the elections. Of the three, the last is the most decisive.”
The Centre, therefore, called on the Committee to quickly address this gap in its engagements, adding that it must be stressed that every Nigerian is looking up to the judiciary.