By Emmanuel Oloniruha
A political group, Allied Conservative Congress (ACC), has urged Nigeria to emulate participatory democracy and electoral sportsmanship witnessed in the recent US election.
ACC’s National Secretary, Lawal Mohammed, stated this at the organisation’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja.
Mohammed said there was no substitute to participatory democracy where citizens’ voices were heard, their votes counted and count in the overall result.
“ACC once again congratulates the American people for upholding the ideals of democracy and ensuring that technical hitches and glitches did not mar the electoral process.
“The electoral sportsmanship in the recent US presidential election is worthy of emulation by all lovers of democracy in Nigeria.
“It is this electoral integrity, political stability, national security, equity and well-being of citizens that ACC seeks to foster in the nation’s frail democracy.
“This will restore Nigeria to greatness and usher in a new era of patriotism essential in nation building,” he said.
Mohammed also called on the judiciary to discharge its statutory duties without fear or favour.
He said that as the temple of justice and the last hope of all aggrieved people, the judiciary should not allow justice to be for sale to the highest bidder.
Mohammed said that the issue of counter orders and conflicting judgments from courts of coordinate jurisdiction was making mockery of the administration of justice in Nigeria.
“The urgent need to overhaul the judiciary cannot be over-emphasised. An unbiased judiciary is critical for sustainable democracy.
“Judicial officers must be firm and above board in upholding the rule of law as so much is required of them in strengthening, deepening and consolidating the nation’s democracy,” he said.
Mohammed called on all lovers of democracy and good governance to join ACC, which, he said, was on a mission to save Nigeria from self-seeking politicians masquerading as democrats.
He disclosed that the process of registering the group to become a political party was ongoing with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Highlights of the NEC meeting included signing of the movement’s Code of Conduct and Oath of Allegiance by its NEC members. (NAN)