Sexual Harassment Claim is Distracting the Senate from Governance, says Agbakoba

"The widespread coverage has damaged our client's reputation locally and internationally. We are happy to allow you a reasonable time to clarify the contradictions that we have referred, while our client reserves the right to all legal options"-Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Former President of the Nigeria Bar Association-NBA.

Dr Olisa Agbakoba, who was the former President of the Nigeria Bar Association and lead counsel for Nigeria's Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has said, the sexual harassment allegation against the Senate President by the suspended Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly has significant contradictions and failed international threshold, adding that she needs to provide more facts to make her case credible and more compelling. Dr Olisa Agbakoba stated this at a media briefing in Lagos State where he admonished media practitioners to maintain a balanced approach in reporting and handling of harassment complaints. According to Punch Newspapaper, he said he was interested in finding out the truth about the allegation of sexual harassment against the Senate President. "Allegations of sexual harassment is a serious matter that deserves careful handling. We acknowledge the difficulty faced by anyone making such an allegation and the importance of treating all parties with dignity. I have three daughters and so, understand the gravity of sexual harassment. I am ready to meet with Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and her lawyers on the issue. Sexual harassment allegations, particularly in governance institutions, require careful handling not only for the parties involved but also for the integrity of our democratic institutions"  He cautioned that the matter be resolved through institutional processes rather than media channels, emphasising the importance of comittment to transparency and justice.In his own words, "sexual harassment is serious, also is presumption of innocence. Let the fact lead, not sentiment" 

Dr Olisa Agbakoba noted that Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan's local and international engagements have highlighted global concerns but contradictions in her claims and subsequent behaviour are very conflicting. The timeline and dates are so contradictory. He pointed out that while Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan claimed sexual harassment occured on 8 December 2023 ,which was her birthday and that of the Senate President on December 9, on the other hand she praised Senator Akpabio who she alleged sexually harassed her on December 9, 2023. "Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan who made a serious allegation  turned to her instagram to also eulogise Senator Akpabio and spoke highly of the birthday event she attended in Uyo, AkwaiIbom state. "The juxtaposition of these two events, an alleged traumatic harassment followed by voluntary, public expression of admiration requires careful consideration" He acknowledged that harassment could be verbal or behavioural but doubted any absolute physical act in respect of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate President. He strongly advised that people should ignore social media advice as they are not 'court-usuable'

In the wprds of Michael Crichton; "Sexual harassment is a very powerful accusation, the most powerful accusation anyone could make. It tarnishes any man, no matter how frivolous the accusation. You are presummed guilty until proven innocent. A harassment claim can also be a weapon and lots of people use it" Combatting sexual harassment in the workplace and beyound is possible.There is urgent need for awareness to create a safe and respectful environment in the workplace and society. Best Practice- It can also be very distressing for someone to be accused of sexual harassment. It's a very serious matter for them too. We should make sure that we offer the same kind of support that we would for someone who's made the complaint. Follow this blog regularly for fresh insights and fearless thinking. Everyone, a change maker !

Uche Okeke .
 

Sexual Harassment Claim in Nigeria's Senate, When, When Will It End?

 Allegations of  Sexual harassment by a female Senator in Nigeria against the Senate President which he has already denied,  has really generated a lot of reactions due to wide publicity. Sexual harassment claim is a very sensitive issue which pose a lot of risk to everyone. It throws up a lot of things especially in Politics and  notoriously difficult to prove. A harassment claim can also be a weapon and anybody can use the weapon and lots of people use it. I think the most important thing is to get it resolved quietly and quickly now that the awareness is raised. Mediation or Pressing Charges whichever option that brings fairness and justice and prevent political problems. No doubt , the Senate is not a birth-right, neither is it a place where people are free to act without restraint. What matters is to do the right thing by following the right process of peaceful resolution rather than aggressive ambitions. No one is flawless. Change behaviour is for everyone. "Power is neither male nor female''-Kathrine Graham. Follow this blog regularly as we intend to help people to see the perspective from both sides of this problem and gain more understanding rather than being stuck in a particular perspective. There is urgent need for awareness and education to help people embrace change behaviour programmes and best practices to make the workplace and society a better place. Heating the polity and creating more divisions is not the solution to the persistent challenges of harassment. A lot is at stake here. The LEAD Project Foundation seeks to help build awareness of the need for change and balanced media reporting of harassment scandal . Uche Okeke is the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation.    

We Shall Continue to Fight For Democracy-Genuine Democracy in Nigeria, Says Peter Obi

"National Assembly Proved That Nigeria Lacks Democracy"-H.E Peter Obi,

Labour Party Presidential Candidate In 2023 Election in Nigeria .Photo: Google.

Mr Peter Obi who was the former Presidential candidate for the Labour Party in Nigeria has criticised the approval and endorsement of the recent state of emergency declared in Nigeria's Oil Rich Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu which suspended the elected Governor and legislators and replaced them with a Military administrator in a supposedly democratic government. In a very strong statement, H.E. Peter Obi said this singular vote clearly demonstrated that democracy, in its true sense does not exist in Nigeria and blamed lack of proper opposition in the country's democractic experiments. In his words, 'functional opposition is lacking and democracy cannot thrive in a such clime'. He emphasized that opposition is a critical pillar of any democratic system because it ensures that the right things are done, holds the ruling party accountable and offers alternative viewpoints. However, he noted that an effective opposition can only exist within a system that supports proportional representation- an approach practiced in countries like South Africa and Indonesia.

 In Nigeria our Senate which comprises 109 seats would be more reflective of electoral realities with APC ruling party holding 44 seats, the opposition PDP holding 33 seats and the Labour Party 27 seats. Ideally the House of Representatives should mirror this balance with approximately 144- APC party members, 108- PDP members and 90- Labour Party members. But this is far from the case. He concluded that the absence of laws restricting party defection allows politicians to freely switch allegiances without consequence. This not only weakens the opposition but also makes a mockery of the electorate's will and undermines the intergrity of our democratic institutions.]According to H.E Peter Obi. 'what is left is not a genuine democratic system but one that is transactional. compromised, and in many respects, resembles organised criminality'.  Unless Nigeria urgently implements essential reforms to entrench true democratic principle, enforce party discipline, and ensure fair representation, the country's democracy will remain fragile and dysfunctional.

Other Opposition Political leaders in Nigeria have also condemned the Emergency Rule Declaration in the Oil- Rich Rivers State and called on the government to reverse the suspension of the elected Governor and the legislators. However,   Bayo Onanuga, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's special Adviser on Information and Strategy dismissed the opposition figures as distraction, accused them of prioritising personal ambitions over national progress and describing them as "disgruntled and sore losers frustrated by their defeat in the 2023 election"s. In his words; President Tinubu is focused on governance to build a prosperous country and he is on the way to achieving it. They are not Politicians after the Public Good. It's all about their selfish-interests, they are disgruntled. The Government Spokesman emphasized that the president has achieved a lot with just two-months to his term with many solid achievements to showcase amidst intractable problems which are being tackled headlong.

 Read The LEAD Project Foundation's blog often to be properly informed about significant events and changes in Nigeria's Political landscape. The State narratives always dominate the headlines, the focus should be to get ordinary people properly informed. Democracy requires plurality of opinions to deliver its ultimate goal of freedom. 

Uche Okeke is the Founder of The LEAD Project Foundation.

 

Nigeria's 2023 election eroded voters' trust, says EU observers

 

"In the lead-up to the 2023 general elections, Nigerian citizens demonstrated a clear commitment to the democratic process. That said, the election exposed enduring systemic weaknesses and therefore signal a need for further legal and operational reforms to enhance transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability"-said Chief Observer Barry Andrews, Member of the European Parliament. Photo: Google.

The European Union Observers who monitored Nigeria's 2023 elections  have confirmed what we all know. According to the findings of EU-EOM observers, election day was marked by late deployment and opening while polling procedures were not always followed. Polling staff struggled to complete result forms, which were not posted publicly in most polling units observed. The introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) were perceived as an important step to ensure the integrity and credibility of the elections. However, uploading of the results using the BVAS did not work as expected and presidential election result forms started to appear on the portal very late on election day, raising concerns. 

The EU-EOM concluded that "shortcomings in law and electoral administration hindered the conduct of well-run and inclusive elections and damaged trust in INEC". The EU-EOM is offering 23 recommendations for consideration by the Nigerian authorities

 Click on this link to read the full report: EU-EOM Nigeria 2023Final Report 

How Nigeria's 2023 Presidential Election was stolen

A number of studies have shown the many ways in which electoral fraud is perpetrated in  Nigeria, however the February 25, 2023 Presidential election has generated a lot of  keen interests. Data analysis from various sources- newspaper reports, election observers reports, interviews, etc, seeks to help tell the story better. 

Read more (soon) as we look into the activities of various stakeholders -  the ruling party, the ruling party controlled Legislature, the Governors, Candidates, Supporters, INEC and their officials, Election Logistics Management, Security agencies, the Judiciary, the Media, other Internal and External factors.

LP to challenge Results in 18 States 

Nigeria's 2023 Presidential Election was stolen given abundant evidence

 "Documents show how INEC blurred and mutilated additional 2.5 million votes in  18,088 Polling Units against Peter Obi", says Professor Eric Ofoedu, Professor of Mathematics at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University...., "No technical glitches on Websites in Continent", Amazon staff tells Nigeria's  Presidential Election Court    Photo: Facebook.

We have been following events about the last February 25, 2023 Presidential election in Nigeria and have come to the conclusion that the election was stolen having met all the criteria for a stolen election. The Presidential election was the most highly anticipated election in Nigeria's history but the drama playing out so far is a huge global embarrassment. 

The ruling party engineered a fraudulent election in connivance with 'corrupt, out of control and dangerous' INEC. The ruling party had 'the arrogant power' and they used it. Declaring the wrong candidate as the winner is a grave injustice given overwhelming evidence at the presidential election court. 

The Judiciary should right the wrong and declare Peter Obi of the Labour Party as the rightful winner of that presidential election or initiate a re-run election. Allowing the stolen election to stand will create a 'stench' that will hunt the country for a very long time. Peter Obi should take back what is rightly his, this is Nigeria Judiciary's toughest test.

 In the words of Peter Obi, "the judiciary is part of the democratic enterprise and a critical governance tool for determining the propriety of the decisions and actions of every citizen and every institution of the state..., We expect that the Judiciary will use the election cases now before it to reaffirm it's independence and integrity. It has to do so, for all our sakes and for itself" 

The Labour Party's Legal Representatives have accused the so called INEC of deliberately frustrating the court proceedings by declining to provide them with essential electoral documents to conclude their case in a 'time bound' proceedings, this demands immediate court intervention and actions. 

25 February 2023, was probably the darkest day in Nigeria's election history, the judiciary should rise up to the occasion to do what the whole world is expecting them to do-'deliver the right justice! Declaring election losers as winners is a recipe for disaster especially in ethnic diverse society like Nigeria where the pull of ethnic identity is greater than the national identity. 

Election sabotage by election officials resulting to an election loser being declared the winner should be treated as state terrorism which requires strong penalty. The electoral laws must be strengthened to deter 'election subversion' and making stolen elections easier in Nigeria. "The time to act is now"

Uche Okeke, My View. 

Nigeria's electoral system is flawed, structured to fail

"Electoral process in Nigeria is still wobbling. With manual voting we have a problem, electronic, we have a problem, where is the problem coming from?..., INEC has to sit up so that they will not throw this country into conflagration one day"-Dr. Goodluck Jonathan , Nigeria's Ex-President. Photo: Google.

Our blog post on Nigeria's illusive democracy was simply to raise awareness of  the state of democracy in Nigeria despite acquiring democratic institutions, due to 'traps' of inherited authoritarian political system. The quality of democracy and the quality of elections in particular, still fall short of good standards and there is nothing to suggest it will change overnight, unless the political system is overhauled. The dysfunctional political system was structured to serve vested interests especially the incumbent and the ruling party, 'preserving the incumbent's grip' on power through the widespread use of fraud and intimidation; win at all costs for the incumbent's sake. Perhaps, the only exception was former President Goodluck Jonathan and we all know the reason. Flawed political system produces flawed electoral system, that's the whole point unless something is done about it.

 The last February 2023 presidential elections is a constant reminder of the sad reality of the trap and the urgent need to do something about it. The time to act is now. International election observers declared, "there was no election to observe , rather they witnessed a crime scene"

 Restructuring the country and overhauling the dictatorship era constitution is one sure way to guarantee prospects of credible and transparent, free and fair elections that will reflect the genuine will of the people, not routine flawed elections every four years . The monstrous political system is the root of the crisis , everything depends on it. It still tilts towards authoritarian regimes whose leaders do not enjoy 'legitimate authority and instead' rule through 'fear and terror' . 

Of course, electoral outcome of a flawed system is electoral disaster. How else can we describe abominable scenes at the last presidential election in Nigeria, where the electoral management body and the security agencies turned blind eye to irregularities and electoral malpractices. According to Mr Julius Abure, Nigeria Labour Party National chairman; "votes lawfully cast for the labour party candidate were changed and reduced and added to increase votes casted for the presidential candidate of the ruling APC party..., after counting of votes, a dark cloud engulfed the nation. It became clear that the correct password to transmit the presidential election results electronically and instantly from the BVAS to the INEC IREV had been criminally withheld, contrary to specifications of the law and contrary to repeated emphasis, directives and promises to the nation and it's citizens by Professor Mahmood Yakubu and INEC officials"

Today , all eyes are on the judiciary for election 

'dispute and resolution', which ought to have taken place before official announcement of election results, but the judiciary is dependent on the monstrous system which has already installed a president without resolving the election dispute. 

In the words of Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential candidate widely believed to be the winner of the 25 February 2023 Presidential elections in Nigeria , "We stand at that critical moment in time when as a people, we must collectively come to grips with the reality of our injured destiny as well as the reasons for that injury"

Indeed, the time has come to restructure the country and reform 'out of date institutions and practices' that do not match the needs of the 21st century. This requires public education and awareness to put pressure on the power holders to do the right thing. Pressure works.  

 Ebenezer Obadare said , "The Nigerian State is the greatest threat to Nigerian Democracy", Ofcourse , this does not require further evidence.

Uche Okeke , My view .