Supreme Court judgement breaches Nigerians’ confidence in judiciary – Peter Obi

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has described the Supreme Court judgment of 26th October, 2023 as a breach of the confidence of Nigerians in the judiciary.

Obi stated this in a statement titled “From Courtrooms to National Conscience: Our Democracy is the Victim,” delivered at a Press Conference on the Supreme Court Judgment of 26th October, 2023  on the 2023 Nigeria Presidential Election in Abuja on Monday.

He stated, “Without equivocation, this judgment amounts to a total breach of the confidence the Nigerian people 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 Constitution derives. 

“This Supreme Court ruling may represent the state of the law in 2023 but not the present demand for substantive   justice.  The   judgment   mixed   principles   and   precepts. Indeed, the rationale and premise of the Supreme Court judgment, have become clearer in the light of the deep revealing and troubling valedictory   remarks   by   Hon.   Justice   Musa   Dattijo   Muhammad, (JSC) on Friday 27th October 2023.

“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 weight   issues   of   national   interest,   I   will   speak forthrightly,” he said.   

The Labour Party candidate further stated, “As students and young   lads   at   CKC,   Onitsha,   we   were taught values and admonished to always “choose the harder right, instead of the easier wrong.

“Setting legal issues aside, the Supreme Court exhibited a disturbing aversion to public opinion just as it abandoned its responsibility as 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, a 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 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.

“In disagreeing very strongly with the ruling of both the Presidential Petitions Court (PEPC) and the Supreme Court on the outcome of the 25th February 2023 presidential election as declared by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as democrats who believe in the rule of law, we recognize that the Supreme Court is the end stage of the quest for legal closure to the matter. 

“As a party and as candidates, Datti and I have now exhausted all legal and constitutional remedies available to us. However, this end is only another beginning in our quest for the vindication of the hope of the common man for a better country. After all, sovereignty belongs to the people! If only for historical purposes, it behooves us to place our disagreement with and deep reservations about this judgment on public record.”

The former governor of Anambra said, “We have long been aware of  how weak national institutions have negatively   affected   our   democracy.   This   year   2023   has   been   quite remarkable and revealing.  INEC has displayed incompetence in the conduct   of   its   statutory   duty.  

“The   judiciary   has   largely   acted   in defiance of constitutional tenets, precedents, and established ground rules.   Political expediency has   preceded   judicial   responsibility.  A mechanical application of technicalities has superseded the pursuit of justice and fairness. Both INEC and the Supreme Court as the referees, respectively shifted the goalposts in the middle of the game.

“Where the value and import of the recent Supreme Court ruling ends is where   our   commitment   to   a   New   Nigeria   begins.   Our mission and mandate remain unchanged. From the very onset, our mission has been more about enthroning a new Nigeria. 

“It is a new nation where things work, where the country is led from its present waste and consumption orientation to a production-driven economy. Our   commitment   is   to   a   nation   anchored   on   the   principles   of prudent management  of  resources to   quickly pull  millions  out of multidimensional   poverty;

“…ensuring transparency and accountability in the   equitable   distribution   of   opportunities, resources, and privileges. In the new Nigeria, we aim to address all unmet needs by showing compassion for all those left behind by the present system.”

Source: Vanguard