The Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa (CGGEJA), a civil society organization, has voiced strong objections to the U.S. Mission in Nigeria’s public statement regarding the Edo State Election Petition Tribunal’s judgment.
The CSO argues that foreign bodies should refrain from interfering in Nigeria’s internal political affairs and should respect the sovereignty of the nation’s institutions.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, CGGEJA’s Country Director, Mr. John Mayaki, emphasized the organization’s concern over the U.S. Mission’s involvement in the matter. “The mission has no role to play in Nigeria’s judiciary or even in the country’s local politics,” Mayaki stated. He called for a greater protection of Nigeria’s institutions from undue external influence.
Mayaki expressed the group’s shock at the U.S. Mission’s statement, asserting that “there should be a limit to everything.” He defended the tribunal’s decision, stating that it “adjudicated to its best ability on what was presented before it” and that the tribunal was justified in its conclusion that the petitioners failed to provide competent witnesses or adequately support their allegations with evidence.
“We should try to protect our own institutions because if we destroy them at some point, we would come back and be needing them,” he added. “I trust that being a sovereign nation, we are not a vassal state to the US, and Edo State is not a colony of Washington or the US.”
Mayaki maintained his confidence in the country’s ability to uphold justice. He advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who challenged the election results, “not to be carried away with what the international community says about our local politics because they are not the judiciary.”
While acknowledging the PDP’s right to appeal the tribunal’s judgment, Mayaki urged the petitioners, including candidate Ighodalo, to prioritize the state’s progress by collaborating with the governor. He also commended journalists for their impartial coverage of the tribunal proceedings.
The PDP has welcomed the US Mission’s statement, describing it as “a confirmation of the imperfections of the September 21, 2024, governorship election in Edo State.”
The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, had posted a statement on the mission’s X handle following the tribunal’s affirmation of Sen. Okpebholo as governor of Edo. The envoy stated, “The U.S. Mission in Nigeria is following the Edo election appeal process closely, particularly given civil society’s concerns about critical issues related to the election, such as ‘serious lapses in the collation process’ that were observed.”
