The Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to restrain a group, the Transformations Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) from proceeding with its ongoing nationwide rallies meant to promote President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 presidential ambition.
A political party, Hope Democratic Party (HDP), made this request in a suit it filed through its lawyer, Ipunu Emmanuel.
Named as defendants are President Jonathan, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SFG), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
HDP, who raised three questions for the court’s determination, argued that the pro-Jonathan presidential campaign, being carried out by TAN under the guise of “rallies,” was a violation of Section 221 of the Constitution.
Section 221 states that “no association, other than a political party shall canvass for votes for any candidate at any election or contribute to the funds of any political party or to the election expenses of any candidate at an election.”
The plaintiff asked the court for an order restraining TAN from canvassing for votes and holding political rallies for candidates and encouraging the unwholesome violation of the provision of the constitution relating to Section 221 and undue wastage of public funds for development and engendering insecurity, sycophancy, lawlessness, militancy and youths unrest in Nigeria.
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