ADP vows to sue Gov. Wike over executive order 21
Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt
The 2023 governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) in Rivers State, Hon. Victor Fingesi, said his party would lead a coalition of other political parties and civil society groups to seek legal action against Executive Order 21 issued recently by Governor Nyesom Wike.
Fielding questions from journalists after a church thanksgiving service to mark the beginning of the governorship and other campaigns of the ADP, Fingesi stated that he would never yield to Executive Order 21, which imposed a N5-million fees on political parties for use of the state public schools and related facilities for campaign rallies.
He stated that the Executive Order 21 was draconian like Decree 4 of a past military regime, pointing out that the ADP, other political parties and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are poised to challenging its legality in court.
“We must ask questions why the subtle reintroduction of draconian Decree 4 of long forgotten military era which gagged freedom of assemblies, associations and speech in whatever shades and forms, hiding under the guise of security breaches.
“The order aimed at restricting political parties activities, rallies and campaigns is a deliberate slap on democracy and the worst of distractions in the contemporary political system. It is inconsistent with extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, at variance with international charters on human rights and peoples’ rights.
“No responsible government would conceive repulsive legislations that hurt people under his watch. It is absolutely abusive, inhuman to restrict and box political parties into uncharitable corner. There are no two electoral umpires but one and that is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“The Electoral Act is clear on the issues of poitical parties’ campaigns and rallies, among other activities as the case may be. We should ask questions as to why that of the Rivers State should be different,” Fingesi fumed.
“It may be the right of the government to do what they have done, but it is also the right of citizens to seek redress if such government action infringes on their rights. We have consulted and seen that Executive Order 21 infringes on human right, infringes on the constitution.
“The ADP, our party, collaborating with other parties and some Civil Society Organisations are going to court to challenge that draconian order. And we know the court will reverse it. In the event that the court fails to reverse it, I will not pay, my party will not pay N5m to Wike.
“We will campaign without paying N5m to Rivers Government. We will go to Rivers people, devising other ways. There are door to door and sundry campaigns that have proven more effective. We have seen stadium that were full, but the crowd are not all party members. Why waste money we can use to help the people, to rent crowd from other states,” Fingesi asked rhethorically.
The ADP candidate said he has workable blueprint, soon to be released, to deal with perrenial floods, transform education, check insecurity and improve general living standards in Rivers state when elected next Governor, come 2023.
He expressed sympathy with victims of the on-going ravaging flooding in Rivers State, promising to visit the areas in coming days and to do something to ameliorate the suffering of the victims.
