Contestants for the stool of Kontagora Emirate council numbering 46 have petitioned Niger state governor, Abubakar Sani-Bello against the process followed to select the next Emir.
The Emir of Kontagora, Saidu Namaska died on September 9 2021 creating a vacuum to be filled through a selection process where the electoral college composed of Waziri, Galadima, Kofa Magayaki and Madakin Kontagora.
However, the 46 contestants represented by their lawyer, Mr Mika Anache wrote a complain titled: “Petition Against the Irregular/Illegal Selection Process of 7th Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora, Leading to a Sham Election Into the Said Revered Stool” to the state governor.
Read the petition below:
Barrister Mika Anache on behalf of other 46 contestants to the throne of Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora write this petition to intimate you of our total rejection of the so-called selection process leading to the alleged election of whoever was said to have emerged as the winner of the said election as the 7th Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora allegedly held on 19th September, 2021. It is of importance for you to note that we are bonafide members of the Kontagora Royal Family and have applied and were cleared to contest for the stool of 7th Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora following the guideline issued by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Niger State one Barrister Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji as well as verbal explanations made on the mode and modalities of the said election process by him,
Your directives to your Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barrister Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji to convoke a conference of both the Electoral College (Consisting of: 1) Waziri 2) Galadima 3) Kofa Magayaki and 4) Madakin Kontagora) and Contestants led to the issuance of guidelines to all eligible contestant as well as the Electoral College highlighting the procedure and process that is to be followed in the selection of 7th Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora.
Your Honourable Commissioner went further on air to speak with Landmark Radio in Kontagora highlighting the procedure and processes in addition to the guideline he issued which was signed personally by him. For your kind attention, that guideline has the force of law because it was the only document issued out by the Government for the purpose of the exercise.
Our petition is predicated on the fact that all that was orally said and documented in the said circular by Barrister Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji were flawed with abuses and non compliance to the later which to all intent and purpose touches on the Fundamental Right of the Contestant and breach of those rights. Similarly due process was not followed in the so I called sham election because:
The circular as well as the viva-voce explanation specifically provided for screening exercise of contestants which was not done but only for the contestant to learn that the list of 48 No. contestants was pruned down to 21 on thereabout. Nobody knew of the procedure used in pruning down the number of contestants neither were the contestants informed of the said development.
The referred oral explanation outlining the procedure in addition to the circular provided for transparent election process where the Commissioner promised that the votes scored by candidates will be announced by the Chairman of the Electoral College immediately the election was conducted and in the presence of either the contestants or their agents but the declaration as to who won was to be deferred as being the exclusive preserve of the Governor of Niger State. None of the candidates/contestants was given the opportunity to be present at the vicinity of the election neither were they given the opportunity by way of information to send their representatives for purposes of witnessing the election process promised by Honourable Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Niger State, Barrister Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji.
The circular as well as other verbal explanation by the Honourable Commissioner provided that all the contestants will be represented at the venue of the election whereby the voting process will be transparent, all the king makers will vote under the open secret ballot procedure after which votes scored by each candidate will be made public by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee. This procedure was totally absent and not followed rather the venue of election was condoned off and made inaccessible to everybody including the contestants and/or their agents. Ordinary common sense and fair play required that contestants should be represented at the election venue and during the election but this was not done.
For avoidance of doubt, you will please find enclosed the said circular dated 13th September, 2021 and issued by the Commissioner as well as audio.
We write to reiterate the fact that failure on the part of the Electoral College, Government to afford contestants those opportunities has portrayed the whole exercise as a sham exercise and lacking legitimacy thereby making the whole exercise illegal and fraudulent. We condemned the procedure and the process leading to the emergence of whoever that had emerged and call on you to revisit the exercise in the interest of justice and fair play. We reject whosoever is alleged to have emerged as the winner of the exercise as it was shrouded in mystery which smacks of transparency. The revered stool of Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora cannot be demeaned by the interest of few who are hell-bent on destroying the traditional institution which is 11th or 12th in the Northern Region Hierarchy of Traditional Institution.
Thus, we demand the following:
Cancellation of the whole exercise and declining to issue any instrument of appointment to any so-called winner arising from the exercise held on 19th September, 2021 purportedly and allegedly referred to as election process/election of the 7th Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora.
Holding another election outlining transparent procedure and process.
Replacing the Commissioner of Local Government Barrister Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji as being incompetent. incomprehensive and lacking capacity to handle the affairs of Kontagora Emirate and its people known for their candour, uprightness, intelligent, focused and always in quest for justice, having involved himself in the complicity of compromise with people of vested interest.
Issuances of clearer and more transparent guidelines and strictly abiding by it while conducting another round of selection process.
Any other thing that will ensure credible and fair election process for the selection/election of the 7th Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora.
Please TAKE NOTE THAT THIS PETITION equally serves as PRE-ACTION NOTICE to you in the event that you refuse and/or neglect to grant our prayers which could be distilled cursorily in a Court of Law. We believe you will not allow this to happen.
Thanks,
Yours faithfully,
MIKA ANACHE
NBA
Contestant No. 39. For and on behalf of 46 Contestants.
CC:
The Speaker.
Niger State House of Assembly, Minna.
The Chairman, Traditional Council of Chiefs, Niger State.
The Honourable Commissioner of Police, Niger State Police Command, Minna.
The Director, DSS, Niger State Command, Minna, Niger State.
Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida GCFR Former Military President of Nigeria, Uphill, Minna.
Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar GCFR Former Military Head of State of Nigeria, Hilltop, Minna.
The Chairman,
Kontagora Emirate Kingmakers (Electoral College), Alhaji Shehu Yusuf Galadima, Niger State.
