Moses Ofodeme
The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) led by Dr Usman Bugaje, Barr Femi Falana SAN, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, Prof Pat Utomi, Hadjia Dr Bilikisu Magoro, Amb Nkoyo Toyo among others, has slammed a major lawsuit against the Federal Government, National Assembly and Nigerian Police for violently disrupting the peaceful protests of Nigerian Citizens initiated by the MCE, which took place on 17 February, 2026 at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja
It will be recalled that following the incident, involving the use of force and tear gas canisters by security agents on Nigerian citizens, who were peacefully demanding the inclusion of popular provisions in the electoral bills, 2026 at the National Assembly Complex, the National Assembly, it was widely reported, during its plenary, the following day of disruption, did acknowledge the wrong done to Nigerian Citizens and openly apologized to the peaceful protesters and Nigerians in general though without proper atonement
Notwithstanding the crocodile apology, the same National Assembly working in strong connivance with the Nigerian Presidency, in a most unusual rush, precipitated a very unpopular amended electoral act on the Nigerian people; with the President unprecedentedly racing to sign an unvetted electoral bill into law in the midst of overwhelming citizens protests in the country.
It’s for this reason and the fact that rulers of the country eventually betrayed the trust of Nigerians in what appears as political coup detat that the leadership of the Movement for Credible Elections resolved to challenge the legality of the forceful disruption of the peaceful assembly and the use of violence on Nigerian citizens peacefully and rightfully demanding credible electoral frameworks for the 2027 elections from their supposed representatives at the National Assembly, knowing fully well that peaceful protest is the constitutional rights of Nigerian Citizens.
Consequently, on Monday 23rd March, 2026, a major legal suit was filed at the Federal High Court Abuja by the Group Legal Counsel of MCE, Barr Femi Falana, SAN of (FALANA & FALANA Chambers ) on behalf of the members of the Movement and Citizens who led the peaceful protest at the National Assembly complex with the Director of Publicity of the MCE, Mr Peter Akah, popularly known as Peter for Nigeria, serving as the lead deponent towards getting proper and actual atonement and redress for the untoward conspiratorial actions of the Nigerian authorities.
To this end, MCE National Secretariat has concluded plans to formally launch the Movement’s Zonal Structures by Tuesday and to inaugurate the coalition’s approved strategic committees; to immediately embark on nationwide mobilization, while commencing full strategic actions towards upturning the newly foisted electoral act, in ensuring the repeal and legitimate review of the unpopular electoral framework for the 2027 elections.