APC to drag First Lady to International Criminal Court

APC says it has concluded plans to drag the first Lady Patience Jonathan before the International Criminal Court over her recent remarks at the PDP Presidential campaign rally in Calabar, Cross Rivers state where she called on people to stone anyone who chanted Change around them.

The APC said Mrs Jonathan's comment was calling on PDP supporters in the state to attack members of the APC. The party likened Mrs Jonathan to the former First Lady of Cote d’Ivoire, Mrs Laurent Gbagbo who was indicted by the ICC over matters bothering on election crisis in 2010 during her husband's re-election

"Change, as the entire country knows by now, is the slogan of the APC – the rallying cry of a political party that wishes to bring hope of greater and better things to come for Nigeria and Nigerians. “By her statement, Mrs. Jonathan was clearly calling on the PDP supporters in Calabar to attack supporters and campaigners of the APC in the state. Mrs. Jonathan does not occupy any formal office in the Nigerian government as the position of the First Lady is not recognised by the Nigerian constitution. But Mrs. Gbagbo’s case shows the ICC’s awareness of how someone beyond formal governmental and military hierarchies can be identified as responsible for serious international crimes. Patience Jonathan’s incontrovertible hate speech not only contravened the laws of the land, but also went completely against the Abuja peace accord jointly signed by the two presidential candidates, Muhammadu Buhari and President Goodluck Jonathan – a gesture which is aimed at forestalling violence before, during and after the 2015 elections. The PDP supporters in the state, who may not know better, could easily yield themselves to the First Lady’s admonition and embark on a process of wanton stoning and other attacks against the APC members.”the party said

The party says the letter to the ICC is signed by the APC Presidential Campaign Director and Governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Ameachi and would be forwarded to the ICC today March 9th. It also said that the Inspector General of the Police and the National Human Rights Commission would also be sent copies of the letter.