The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election, Peter Obi, on Monday, said the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed Bola Tinubu’s victory in the election as the nation’s president is a breach of Nigerians’ trust in the judiciary arm.
The former Anambra governor said this in a world press conference held at the party’s National Headquarters in Abuja while responding to the Supreme Court verdict.
Earlier, the Supreme Court has affirmed the decision of the tribunal on Obi and Atiku Abubakar’s appeals.
The apex court affirmed that other panel members agreed with the lead judgment delivered by John Okoro, dismissing Atiku Abubakar’s appeal and challenging the judgment of the presidential petition tribunal.
They also agreed with Okoro to reject the application of Atiku, seeking to present Tinubu’s credentials obtained from the CSU.
The other justices on the panel are Uwani Aji, Mohammed Garba, Ibrahim Saulawa, Adamu Jauro, Abubakar Tijjani, and Emmanuel Agim.
Saulawa said, “The application by Atiku is frivolous and vexatious and deserves to be dismissed. I find no merit in the appeal and dismiss, and I affirm the decision of the lower court.”
While responding to the verdict, Obi said, “Without equivocation, this judgment amounts to a breach of confidence Nigerians have in our judiciary. To that extent, it is a show of unreasonable force against the very Nigerian people from whom the power of the Nigerian citizens is drawn.”
Why I was absent at Supreme Court — Obi
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party at the February 25 general elections, Peter Obi, on Monday, explained his absence at the Supreme Court, saying he was unable to attend due to a pre-arranged international commitment.
The former governor of Anambra State made this known at the World Press Conference held at the LP campaign headquarters in Abuja.
He said, “About a fortnight ago, I was traveling abroad on a prior scheduled engagement when I received the notice that the Supreme Court would give judgment on 26th October 2023 on our challenge to the ruling of the Presidential Election Petitions Court. That judgment has since been delivered as scheduled.
“The leadership of the Labour Party has already pronounced its position on the judgment. As someone who has previously benefited from the rulings of the Supreme Court on electoral matters, I have, after a period of deep and sober reflection, decided to personally and formally react to the recent judgment as most Nigerians have. Because we are confronted with very weighty issues of national interest, I will speak forthrightly.”
Obi expressed concern over the Supreme Court’s apparent disregard for public opinion, suggesting that it has neglected its duty as both a court of law and policy.
“It is, therefore, with great dismay that I observe that the Court’s decision contradicts the overwhelming evidence of election rigging, false claim of a technical glitch, substantial non-compliance with rules set by INEC itself as well as matters of perjury, identity theft, and forgery that have been brought to light in the course of this election matter. These were hefty allegations that should not to be treated with levity.
“More appalling, the Supreme Court judgment willfully condoned breaches of the Constitution relative to established qualifications and parameters for candidates in presidential elections. With this counter-intuitive judgment, the Supreme Court has transferred a heavy moral burden from the courtrooms to our national conscience. Our young democracy is ultimately the main victim and casualty of the courtroom drama,” he stated.
