Politics
By Anthony Isibor
NIGERIANS have continued to express mixed reactions to the verdict of the Presidential Petition Election Tribunal, PEPT, which affirmed President Bola Tinubu as winner of the February 25, 2023 polls.
Most Nigerians, who took to their social media handles, expressed various views about the judgment. While some commended the Tribunal for its courage, some condemned the decision, describing it as the defeat of the judiciary, while others remained indifferent.
Reacting to the verdict, Rev John Hayab, the Kaduna State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, urged Nigerians to allow the rule of law to take its course for the overall peace and unity of the nation.
According to him, politicians and all Nigerians should accept the judgment of the tribunal, even if the judgment did not go according to their expectations, they should respect the judicial system for the interest of peace and harmonious coexistence of the country.
He noted that accepting the judgment and allowing the rule of law will consolidate the idea of the court as the last hope of the common man.
”Nigerians must not allow themselves to be used to divide the country, based on political differences, but unite and work with the person the court rules in his favour to lead the affairs of the land for development to thrive in Nigeria.
“Politicians come and go, but the country remains. Therefore, we must think inward and not allow some selfish individuals to put the country into confusion that could lead to chaos that can result in loss of lives and destruction of property, which could set the country backward, instead of consolidating Nigeria’s progress.”
Also Gov. Sanwo-Olu of Lagos, who reacted to the verdict of the tribunal in a statement by Mr Gboyega Akosile, the Chief Press Secretary, on Wednesday in Lagos, described the verdict as well deserved.
He noted that Nigerians had spoken through the ballots and the tribunal has also validated the citizens’ decision by the judicial pronouncements, which upheld the victory of President Tinubu during the 2023 presidential poll.
“Millions of Nigerians were not in doubt as regards the mandate freely given to President Tinubu to steer the ship of Nigeria based on his track records and laudable achievements as a two-term Governor of Lagos State,” he said.
On his part, Abdullahi Ganduje, All Progressives Congress, APC, National Chairman, urged the opposition political parties to accept the verdict of the tribunal while describing the judgment as thorough and addressed all the issues raised by the petitioners.
Also reacting to the verdict, a pro-democracy group, Coalition of Good Governance and Change Initiative, CGGCI, called on Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi to drop their judicial challenges against President Tinubu.
In a statement by Okpokwu Ogenyi, National Coordinator of the coalition, on Wednesday in Abuja while addressing newsmen during a solidarity walk to the Court of Appeal, said that he thanked God Almighty for appealing to the conscience of the handlers and indeed affirming the mandate of the Nigerian people.
“We work tirelessly for the emergence of Tinubu as president and God Almighty has prevailed that the mandate is not truncated,” he said.
However, Inibehe Effiong, a constitutional rights lawyer seems to disagree.
Effiong, who reacted via his Twitter handle @InibeheEffiong, faulted the PEPT judges’ decision on the issue of electronic transmission of election results from the polling units and wondered how the Electoral Act will be seen to be implemented since it had specified the mode of transmission.
“If INEC is not bound to electronically transmit election results to the IREV, how then will results be transferred directly from the polling unit as mandated by the Electoral Act?
“Can results be transferred manually directly from polling units?
“Note that delivery of physical copies of Form EC8A to the collation centre together with agents of political parties and security agencies is a separate requirement,” he said.
Similarly, Dele Momodu, Publisher of Ovation magazine, through his Twitter handle @DeleMomodu, also had this to say: “I watched in utter amazement and wonderment how our Constitution was brazenly and deliberately turned upside down by those who lack a sense of history and care less about the verdict of history… What all men and women of good conscience should have for them is pity and not anger… NIGERIA SHALL BE FREE…”
Also, the PDP and the Labour Party on Wednesday rejected the said judgment in its entirety,’ because justice was not served and it did not reflect the law and the desire of the people.’
According to the PDP, the PEPT judgment of ‘was against reason, against the facts and evidence presented in court; against the relevant Electoral Laws, Guidelines and Regulations as well as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).’
While the Labour Party said: “Nigerians were witnesses to the electoral robbery that took place on February 25, 2023, which was globally condemned but the Tribunal in its wisdom refused to accept the obvious. What is at stake is democracy and we will not relent until the people will prevail.”
Serah Ibrahim, an EndSARs activist and member of the Obidient movement, who also wrote on her Twitter handle @The SerahIbrahim, described the judgment as a direct attack and insult on Nigerians.
“This is a disgrace to Nigeria. Tuehhh.”
Similarly, Oseni Rufai, Arise TV Broadcaster, who wrote via his Twitter handle @ruffydfire said: “The judge literally starts to insult the petitioners and goes ahead to berate the Europeans!’
Activist Aisha Yesufu wrote via @AishaYesufu, “Interesting how the constitution is a living document when it comes to 25%, but not a living document when it comes to forfeiture
David Hundeyin, an Investigative journalist, who wrote a lengthy piece via his twitter handle @DavidHundeyin noted that “If Nigerians allow this unelected impostor regime to perpetuate itself with no pushback from Wednesday, be informed that no “international community” is going to do jackshit.
“Likewise, if Nigerians stand up against this illegality and stop an unelected criminal from turning himself into Africa’s latest civilian dictator, the same “international community” is also not going to do jackshit.
“Whatever decision you make, no oyibo institution, no AU, no ECOWAS, nobody is going to do ANYTHING about it…
“There is no global order, and there are no rules. Fairness does not exist. The world is a jungle. What you get is what you make of it.
“Your future is in your own hands,” he said.
Recall that the PEPT had on Wednesday September 6, 2023 dismissed all the petitions brought against the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, the All Progressive Congress, APC and President Bola Tinubu/Shetimma on several grounds.
Upholding the declaration of Tinubu as President by INEC, the five-member panel led by Justice Haruna S. Tsammani in a unanimous decision, agreed that the petitions by the petitioners lacked merit and thus affirmed Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the duly elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
A.
-September. 06, 2023 @ 15:25 GMT |
Tags: Abdullahi Ganduje Anthony Isibor David Hundeyin Dele Momodu Gov. Sanwo-Olu INEC Inibehe Effiong Justice Haruna S. Tsammani Mr Gboyega Akosile Okpokwu Ogenyi Oseni Rufai President Bola Tinubu
