By Yinka Ajayi

D r Adah Obekpa was a presidential aspirant of the African Renaissance Party (ARP) ahead of the 2011 general elections. In fact, Obekpa emerged as the ARP  presidential candidate before he was substituted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He went to court to challenge the substitution. The case first came up on April 13, 2011, three days before the 2011 presidential poll, at the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi and judgement delivered on March 16, 2016. The court ruled against him but he has now lodged an appeal at the Court of Appeal.

In this interview, Obekpa explains why five years after the election he is complaining about he is still in court.

Since the 2011 presidential election has come and gone, why are you still in court?

Adah Obekpa

I have been in court since March 2011. The mere fact that the 2011 presidential election is gone does not mean the effects of the  injustice do not linger. There are  fundamental issues in this claim, like ensuring  Nigerians have the right to vote, that is of utmost  importance. This case claims a grand conspiracy by Dr Goodluck Jonathan, the leadership of the 7th  National Assembly and INEC to subvert/undermine the  Constitution following the action of Jonathan  in assenting to the 2011 Electoral Amendment Bill one year  before the passage of same bill by the National Assembly.

As such, the 2011 Electoral Amendment Bill is null, void and unconstitutional. Likewise,  the 2011 presidential election is null and void. Our nation is on the verge of total collapse, anarchy is  loosened upon our land. We need to restore hope and  justice  by restoring the Constitution and upholding the  fundamental rights of every Nigerian citizen.

Did INEC give any reason for substituting  your name with that of Yahaya Ndu in the build-up to 2011 presidential election?

ARP  Chairman, Yahaya Ndu, and INEC claimed I was 36years old  at the time as reason for the  substitution. However, by law, a substitution could only be done via a court order, which  INEC never sought.

You alleged there is an attempt on your  life both in Nigeria and in the United States. Who do you think is behind it and why are you the subject of  attack?

I believe these attempts on my life were initiated  by that powers-that-be  in Nigeria, intent on holding unto  political power by subverting the Constitution, depriving millions of Nigerian citizens the right to  vote and be voted for, and denying access to courts for  reprieve and justice. This was retribution for my attempt at  exposing this crime against our  nation and assault on the Constitution, and my refusal to withdraw the lawsuit.

Are you sure of getting justice now that you  have gone to the Court of Appeal?

This lawsuit is not about me- it is about the soul of  Nigeria and for future generations to come. It’s about  the survival and  rebirth of our great nation. Any house  built on a false foundation will not stand. Nigeria is  almost a failed state. At all level of government, our  political leaders have failed to uphold the Constitution. Law and order is non-existent in the nation and anarchy  reigns in today’s polity.

This lawsuit is a plea for a  constitutional  revolution in Nigeria, the restoration of the Constitution and the  fundamental rights of every Nigerian citizen.

Goodluck Jonathan is now a former  President. Why are you still serving him notice of  appeal?

President Goodluck Jonathan, by appending his signature to the 2011 Electoral  Amendment Bill one year before the passage of same bill by the National Assembly, violated his oath to uphold the  constitution, undermined public trust, colluded with the  leadership of the National Assembly and INEC to deny millions of Nigerians their constitutional rights. In  addition, he undermined.