A prominent Southeast politician, Dr Simon Okeke, has joined other notable Nigerians in calling on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief Justice of Nigeria to halt the inauguration of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, on May 29 until the Supreme Court has given its final verdict on who actually won the election….CONTINUE READING...CONTINUE READING
Okeke, former chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), said this on Saturday, May 6, during a press conference in his country home, Amici, Nnewi South local government area Anambra state.
Okeke reveals why Tinubu should not be sworn in
Legit.ng’s regional reporter in Anambra, Mokwugwo Solomon, quoted Okeke as arguing that swearing in Tinubu into office as the president of the country is like preempting the winner of the presidential polls before the court gives its final judgement.
His words:
“Following the controversial February 25 presidential and national assembly elections, and consequent unprecedented tension and criticism that trailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announcement of presidential election results, the country’s judiciary is today on trial.
“Since INEC failed to meet most of its set guidelines, including the failure to transmit results as promised, from the polling units to INEC’s central server, the announced presidential results have been challenged by five major political parties in Nigeria – including Labour Party, the People’s Democratic Party, and others.
“We, therefore, call on the country’s judiciary to consider the general aspiration of millions of Nigerians, as well as the corporate existence of Nigeria, in handling the electoral petitions in order to avoid a miscarriage of justice that may precipitate a serious crisis in the country.
“Since the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended allows anyone that is aggrieved to go on appeal from the Tribunal to the Supreme Court to determine the true winner, it means that no one should be sworn-in as the winner before the apex court pronounces who, in its opinion, is the true winner of the election.
“Common sense requires that until the apex court pronounces who the winner is, the election is only midway and not yet over. Consequently, swearing in anyone as the winner of the election is premature and nothing more than announcing the result of a match in the middle of a game.
“We, therefore, call on the president of the federal republic of Nigeria to swear in only the person adjudged by the apex court to be the winner of the election. To swear in anyone when the case is still pending in court is to prejudice the view of the apex court or urging the court to confirm whoever is prematurely sworn in. To swear in anyone before the verdict of the apex court is indirectly urging that the court should confirm the candidate is already sworn in.
“This situation is like a case in a football match – if during a match, one side strikes a ball to the goal area of an opponent, and there is a dispute as to whether or not a goal has been scored, it is only the referee that can decide whether or not it is a goal. No side will make a claim until a referee has given his decision.
“This is the situation Nigeria has found itself in as regards the disputed presidential election as to who is the true winner – Tinubu, Atiku or Obi. Until the referee, in this case – the Supreme Court, gives its verdict, no one should be sworn in. To swear in anyone as president before the apex court gives its ruling is to defeat the spirit of the game, and to cause confusion, both in the judiciary and the general public. Such a situation should, therefore, be avoided in a fragile system such as ours. Therefore, let the court complete its job so that all should know who the true winner is, and such be sworn in as the authentic president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Festus Keyamo speaks on moves to stop Tinubu’s inauguration
In a related development, the minister of state, labour and employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN), mocked antagonists of the president-elect who he said have been assured that Tinubu’s inauguration can be legally stopped before Monday, May 29.
Keyamo said he read a report to the effect that some foreign lawyers have been flown into Nigeria to ensure that the court stops Tinubu’s swearing-in.
“I read somewhere that some supposedly learned fellow is assuring the nattering nitwits that the inauguration of @officialABAT can be legally stopped before May 29th and yet another story that some foreign lawyers have been flown in to achieve that purpose,” he tweeted….CONTINUE READING
