A civil society group, Guardian of Democracy and Development Initiative has raised the alarm of threat by some anti-democratic forces to drag the name of President Muhhamdau Buhari in the mud, by scheming to truncate the wheel of justice at the Supreme Court on the ongoing legal battle for the Osun state governorship seat.
The executive director of the group, which has deep interest in the protection and deepening of democratic culture in Nigeria, Comrade Charles Ibiang told a press conference in Abuja on Friday that the group is worried by ongoing moves to harass and intimidate the judiciary on Osun governorship judgment slated for July 5, 2019, by the apex court.
Ibiang alleged that reports in public space indicate that, “Some politicians are dropping the name of President Muhammadu Buhari to compel Justices of the Supreme Court to do their bidding.
“If this is true, this constitutes a great disservice to the rule of law and a threat to the country’s nascent democracy”, the civil society group said, even as it noted that President Buhari had publicly tasked the judiciary to perform their roles without fear or favour.
Ibiang also reminded the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Muhammad of his promise to do justice, no matter whose ox is gored, adding that the commitment showed by the president and the acting CJN has rekindled hope and faith of many Nigerians in the democratic society.
“It was for this that we condemn any attempt to repress and oppress the judiciary to serve a partisan political end. We also consider very reprehensible any attempt to disrupt constitution based adjudication of Osun governorship tussle”, Ibiang said.
He said Nigerians and the democratic world are expecting nothing but justice for the winner of the Osun state governorship election held last year and that any attempt to truncate justice delivery will undermine the democratic standing of the nation and that of the Presidency.
The civil society group called on the President to stop the forces dropping his name for antidemocratic purpose, saying that justice must be allowed to be done in the case.
” It is a way of to further legitimize the administration and assuring citizens of democratic gains and prosperity”, he said.
Recall that Senator Ademola Adeleke, who contested for the Office of the Osun state governor under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last year is challenging the declaration of Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressive Congress (APC) winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The state governorship election petition Tribunal, which sat in Abuja had, in its judgment sacked Oyetola and declared Adeleke winner.
Dissatisfied, Oyetola went to the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which reversed the decision of the Tribunal and held that he (Oyetola) was validly elected governor of the state.
Adeleke then went to the Supreme Court to challenge the judgment of the Appeal Court, praying the apex court to set aside the judgment and uphold the judgment of the Tribunal, which gave him victory in the election.
The apex court, having listened to submissions of parties in the matter, fixed July 5 to deliver judgment.