PDP rejects duplication of CJN, calls for sanction against President

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected in its entirety, what it observed as the attempts by President Muhammadu Buhari to foist “an illegal” Chief Justice on the nation while the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen is still in office.

In its reaction to the suspension of Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) by the President, the party said in a statement that it firmly holds that “such impunity cannot stand, as Nigeria is a nation governed by law and not by the whims and caprices of a dictatorial leader. President Buhari wants to ruin our country and we will never allow him.”

Signed by Kola Ologbondiyan National Publicity Secretary and Director, Media & Publicity PDP Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO), the statement said Nigerians must reject the incendiary move by President Buhari to forcefully suspend the constitution, annex the judicial arm of government and open the nation up for full-blown totalitarianism to achieve his self-succession bid, having realized that he cannot win in the 2019 general election.

It added: “President Buhari’s action in attempting to unilaterally appoint a Chief Justice and foist him on our country is a direct invitation to anarchy, national confusion and a monumental crisis capable of derailing our democracy and destroying our corporate existence as a nation.

“It is now clear to the world that President Buhari, in his selfish self-succession bid, is out to cause mayhem in our nation and truncate the smooth conduct of the 2019 election, not minding the consequential human and material losses.

“There can be no two Chief Justices of Nigeria. Our constitution is clear on how a Chief Justice is appointed and removed as such does not lie on the prerogative of the President. As such, we urge all Nigerians and the international community to recognize only Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

“Furthermore, the PDP invites the international community and particularly the United States and the United Kingdom to note that this assault on the judiciary is geared towards subverting 2019 general elections and as such immediately list President Buhari and APC leaders for proposed sanctions on election riggers and perpetrators of violence in the general election.

“The world already knows how the Buhari administration has trying to compromise the electoral process, including the refusal to sign the amendment to the Electoral Act, as well as the foisting of Mr President’s relation by marriage, Mrs Amina Zakari to coordinate the collation of Presidential election results.

“The PDP wants President Buhari to know that this nation belongs to all Nigerians. Our nation is a democratic state governed by the constitution and the law and Nigerians will never allow anybody to appropriate rulership to himself outside the dictates of the law.

“President Buhari tried to forcefully remove the leadership of the National Assembly and fail. His attempt to annex the judiciary and impose a Chief Justice that will surrender the judiciary to him is also already dead on arrival.

“Finally, the PDP calls on the National Assembly to immediately reconvene and proceed with legislative actions against President Buhari for this gross misconduct.”

Also,  the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) viewed the removal of the CJN as a judicial coup that must be resisted by all lovers of democracy.

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In a statement issued its spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, in Abuja, it noted that “Buhari has finally overthrown constitutional governance,” adding: “This fictionalisation of the judiciary will not stand.”

The statement added: “As far as the law of the land is concerned, Onnoghen remains the CJN. We will not recognise any other person who may be occupying that office illegally. “

The statement affirmed that Justice Tanko Muhammed who has been appointed as the acting CJN is “a usurper.”

It urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to get rid of him just as it urged lawyers to ignore him as long as he remains on that seat.

The CUPP explained: “Onnoghen’s illegal removal was aimed at stopping the swearing-in of members of the 2019 general election petition tribunal.

“We have been vindicated on our earlier alarm that Buhari wants to appoint pro-APC CJN to help use the judiciary to affirm APC candidates in the 2019 pre and post-election litigation.

“We hereby call on lawyers, judges and judicial staffs to downtown immediately. This is the last battle and it must be won. The NBA should immediately call out all lawyers. All courts must be shut now while the nationwide protest against this impunity should also commence.

“The CJN must remain in office and disregard this announcement as the President has no power to suspend him.

“The Senate should reconvene now and start impeachment process against the President for acting against the provision of the Constitution he swore to uphold.

“Buhari has shown with this development that he is the cruellest and barbaric President Nigeria ever had. “A man who rode to power on the basis of respect for the rule law and fundamental principles of democracy has chosen to play to the gallery of dictatorship to right elections. Let see how it goes.

“But we know that this is going to be the beginning of democracy in Nigeria. The democratic institutions will fight back. Trust me it is the beginning of democracy in Nigeria. Out of adversity comes strength.”