…Says Judgement on Kano and Plateau States are Necessary Respites for Nigeria’s Troubled Democracy
…Celebrates with the Governors of Lagos, Kano, Zamfara, Ebonyi, Plateau, Abia, Cross River, and Bauchi for their deserving victories at the Supreme Court
Erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New People’s Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has commended the Supreme Court for their judgements over the Governorships of some states, which has sent a signal that the apex court is committed to redeeming its image which is tainted with controversies arising from some pronouncements that are not in tone with the law as it is.
In a statement made available to the media, Eze restated that Nigerians lost hope in the judiciary, especially the Supreme Court, after its perverse handling of the 2023 Presidential election appeal where the little remaining public confidence was dashed.
He however noted that after a keen observation of some of the judgement especially on Kano, Plateau and Zamfara States which were erroneously decided by the Appeal Courts, the Supreme Court is right on the track to redeeming itself.
“By their judgements on Kano, Plateau and Zamfara, the apex court has not only rescued itself from the abyss it was before this day of 12th January 2024 but has saved this nation from the calamitous situation she would have faced in those States, had the judgements been the other way round, which would have been anti-people”.
Eze said that he is very relieved about the judgement on Kano and plateau States which if not people would have lost interest in both the Judiciary and Democracy.
Eze quoted the Supreme Court in Plateau State, ” The order of the High Court had nothing to do with the party’s power to conduct primaries for the PDP as it did to nominate Governor Mutfwang as its candidate for the governorship election despite that, there is evidence showing that the order of the Plateau State High Court was complied with by the party.
Justice Okoro counselled that judges should be more meticulous and pleaded that the legal profession should wake up, adding that, for this reason, this appeal is allowed. The judgement of the Court of Appeal is set aside, inclusive of the orders made therein.
Justice Helen Ogunwumiju captured the minds of Nigerians when she stated, “My only worry is that a lot of people have suffered as a result of the Court of Appeal’s decision. It was wrong. “It was very wrong for the Court of Appeal to go into the issue of party congresses. To make matters worse, the party challenging the issue is another political party,” She adds that the Court of Appeal made a fundamental error by shifting the burden of proof on Governor Mutfwang.
Eze therefore pleads that the Plateau Lawmakers who were sacked by the Appeal Court based on the fact that PDP sponsored their membership to contest the 2023 elections ought not to have been dropped and should be reinstated as a matter of urgency for the interest of fairness and justice.
Eze commended the respected Justices for their boldness in not allowing any external forces to influence their sound senses of judgement, adding that they have done well by beginning to restore the hope of Nigerians in the Judiciary and prayed God to bless the benchers who were involved in judgements.
Eze joined the good people of Lagos, Kano, Zamfara, Ebonyi, Plateau, Abia, Cross River, and Bauchi for the affirmation of their mandates by the apex courts and called on governments to be responsive to the concerns of the masses.
“Let me also use this opportunity to celebrate with the good people of Adamawa, Benue, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Kano, Zamfara, Ebonyi, Plateau, Abia, Cross River, and Bauchi etc for their victories and pray each of the Governors to go back and implement programs and projects that will restore public confidence in government”.
The APC Chief commended President Tinubu for his steadfastness, notwithstanding how he came into power, in ensuring that the Judiciary is as independent as it ought to be and self-sustaining.
Eze urged Nigerians to bury their differences and team up with the government of the day to build the Nigeria every citizen dreams and yearns for.
