The Arewa Consultative Forum has said President Goodluck Jonathan is attempting to redefine democracy with his endorsement of Governor Jonah Jang as Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum.
National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Mr. Anthony Sani said this in a telephone interview with SUNDAY PUNCH, in Abuja, on Saturday.
Sani explained that it defied logic for an administration which had said it had no hand in the election, to turn round and recognise the loser as winner.
He said, "Democracy may differ in forms, but when it comes to its triple foundation of liberty, justice and common decency, democracy is the same across the globe.
"So, if the presidency which has dissociated itself from what happened at the election of the governors' forum, and which claims credit for the first free and fair elections in 2011 under its watch, would go ahead and recognise Governor Jonah Jang as the winner of the NGF election on the basis of prior endorsement and not on the basis of votes cast, then may be, they are redefining democracy preparatory for 2015.
"But the nation expects both the presidency and the governors' forum to use their places in the order of things in the polity and provide order and direction for our democracy."
The outcome of the NGF election has become a subject of litigation as governors who voted for Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State who won the election by securing 19 votes to Jang's 16, have gone to court.
The Punch