An Abuja-based lawyer, Ken Asogwa, has dragged the Federal Government of Nigeria to court seeking protection for Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25, 2023, presidential election.
In Suit (NO: FHC/HC/2023) filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division today, Asogwa is seeking from the court the following: “ (a) A DECLARATION that the Respondents were negligent and breached their professional duties in allowing a mammoth crowd surround Peter Gregory Obi- the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential election and a potential President of Nigeria at a very close proximity at a campaign rally in Enugu, Enugu State.
“(b) A DECLARATION that the acts Respondents in allowing a mammoth crowd and unauthorized persons surround Peter Gregory Obi- the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential election and a potential President of Nigeria at a very close proximity at a campaign rally exposes him to danger and a threat to good governance in Nigeria and therefore unlawful, wrongful, and unconstitutional.
“A DECLARATION that the applicant has the right to vote for Peter Gregory Obi- the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential election and a potential President of Nigeria whose presidency the Applicant believes will be a source of liberation for him and that of his family and the candidate is therefore entitled to full state protection by the Respondents.
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“A DECLARATION that Peter Gregory Obi- the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential election and a potential President of Nigeria is entitled to the protection from harm and danger from the defendants under the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Police Act.
“AN ORDER of mandating the Respondents to provide adequate security and protection to Peter Gregory Obi- the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential election and a potential President of Nigeria during campaigns, rallies, during & after the election and thereafter.
“AND for such order or other orders as the court may deem fit to make in the circumstances”.
“Joined in the suit are the Inspector General of Police (1st Respondent), Department of State Security Services (Second Respondent), and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).”
In a supporting affidavit to the suit, Asogwa a human rights activist and advocate for good governance, said as an intending voter in the presidential election, he believed that the right and competent person should be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 2023 and subsequent elections.
He averred that it was his belief that Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate is the best candidate for the Nigerian people as he possessed the competence, the requisite character, energy to fix Nigeria. He noted in the affidavit: “I know as a fact that Nigeria as a nation has suffered untold hardship, poor governance, in-depth corruption and incompetent leadership.
“I know as a fact that the Mr. Peter Gregory Obi- the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential election campaign has the capacity and the competence to fix Nigeria and provide better life for me and my family.
“My desire is to vote for Mr. Peter Gregory Obi- the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential election with the confidence that he will fix Nigeria.
The plaintiff said having been following the campaign rallies of Obi, he became alarmed that adequate security is not provided for him as he campaigns.
Citing an incident on the 12th January 2023, when Obi was in Enugu, Enugu State for his campaign as part of his ongoing presidential campaign, was surrounded by a mammoth crowd which made it impossible for him to pass and he was hurriedly and luckily taken away from the crowd for safety by unauthorized persons, Asogwa said the Labour Party’s presidential candidate’s life was put in great and grave danger, and the possibility of personal harm to him was visible as he was almost stampeded in the process.
Decrying the incident, Asogwa averred that his life and the lives of my family are dependent on future good governance which Peter Gregory Obi has promised to offer.
He said the Federal Government through the respondents to the suit has a statutory duty to provide adequate security and protect the life of Obi as provided for in Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution, Section 4 of the Police Act, and Section 2(3) of the National Security Agencies Act, and other relevant legislations.
“The acts of the Respondents aforesaid in not providing adequate security are illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional. The orders and interventions of this court are needed in order to safeguard the life of Peter Gregory Obi and protect the future of the applicant”, he stated adding that it was in the interest of justice for his application to be granted as the respondents would be prejudiced in any way if it is granted.
No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.