A group loyal to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the last general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has alleged that President Tinubu was making frantic effort to frustrate, at least, two of the justices at Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) to resign, so as to make mess of the judicial panel.
Comrade Bukky Adeniyi, the group Director General made the allegation in a statement released in Lagos on Thursday, 20th July, 2023.
He stated that given the existing legal provision which necessitated a replacement and retrieval in case any judge resigns and consequently translates to buying time beyond the stipulated time by the Supreme Court was a ploy to make the case statute barred and of no effect.
The group stressed that the move made by Tinubu was to make the Justices resign and the target was at ensuring the time frame of 180 days elapses before the case is concluded by the panel.
In the statement: “The Justice has not resigned at the moment but we have it on good authority that president Tinubu and his people in government are seriously working hard to threaten and frustrate one or two of them to resign so that the panel will be bereft of jurisdiction at this stage.
“This will lead to replacement and retrieval de novo. In which case, it will be statute barred once outside the 180 days stipulated by the constitution and attendant of which ends the matter, because Supreme Court cannot extend time.
“At the moment Tinubu is pressuring the tribunal. He wants two judges to withdraw or resign from the panel.” FOWN stated.
Adeniyi also noted that a former PDP Governor from the South-South turned APC lackey having allegedly helped to rig elections in Tinubu’s favour within the zone.
The group said is now being used to hoodwink the justices to give favourable decision.
“A particular state governor formerly with the PDP but now in APC sequel Tinubu’s blessing from South-South is delegated to use document of money exchange between the government of that state and one or two of the justices in the past for judgement favour then, as a proof to harass and intimidate the justices to shift the judgement of the tribunal in their favour.”
