A group advocating for good governance, rule of law, democratic norms and values in Nigeria, The Legacy Forum, has urged former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party to allow the law to take its course and not overheat the polity.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Barr Mutiu Olakunle Alimi stated this at a media parley in Lagos.
According to Alimi, the power to uphold or renounce the election victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February presidential election lies with the Supreme Court, adding that any debate outside of the apex court is subjudice and will amount to media trial.
While expressing optimism in the ability of President Bola Tinubu to deliver on his renewed hope promises to Nigerians, he said, “I am surprised that something that is subjudice and is before the apex court is being debated and people are giving it a kind of media trial.
“You can only have a court of competent jurisdiction to adjudicate on such issue. There are investigative agencies backed by the constitution to investigate and prosecute such matters. There isn’t much that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has to tell us because, when you submit a petition to a court, it is expected that you allow the court to evaluate the evidence you have put before it. You don’t need to convince Nigerians on the matter.
“You might not like the person of the president, if you are a good advocate of the rule of law, let the law take its course. You have submitted whatever you got from anywhere you went to the court, the court has jurisdiction over it. We have justices of the Supreme Court, who are more than competent to adjudicate on it. Atiku Abubakar should allow the court to give its judgment and when this has been done, let it be acceptable to all Nigerians.”
He continued, “The 2023 General Elections are so unique in the history of Nigeria. Like I tell people, new generation of Nigerians are emerging. Whatever you want to accuse President Ahmed Tinubu of, go to court and as a believer in the rule of law, allow the court to do justice to it.
“More so, Atiku and Tinubu are friends and when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Tinubu as winner, he invited all the presidential candidates to join hands with him to build Nigeria. At the moment, Nigeria is in a critical situation such that all lovers of this country need to support Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to lead Nigeria and restore the hope of the people. There isn’t much issue on the matter, let the court decide if Tinubu has committed an abnormality.”
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