The National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), USA chapter, has reacted to the recent judgment of the Presidential Elections Petitions Tribunal that upheld the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25 presidential election.
The group, in a statement signed by the executive director and the spokesman for the group in the USA, Dr. Llord Ukwu and David Adenekan, said PEPT’s verdict was a reminder of what the late Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley said that “you will never find justice in a world where criminals make law.”
They said the tribunal’s judgement was never a surprise to NADECO which has not changed its stand on the present administration as a product of mafia enterprise.
“PEPT’s verdict is a great scar on the destiny of our great country,” NADECO stated.
NADECO however said it agreed with some aspects of the judgment relating to the decision on Vice President Kashim Shettima’s issue because the law requires him to have knowingly committed the offence.
It also stated that it “vehemently disagrees with the decision on the drug and certificate issues that decided in favour of Tinubu.
It further disputed the court’s pronouncement on the Abuja 25% matter saying “the judges’ stand on the 25% requirement in Abuja is as simplistic as it is illogical.
“It leaves a very sour taste. Law is logic. Moreover, it is illogical and indeed, insane to give a special status to the FCT that is higher than the rest 36 states, and this they might say has no parallel in history the Judges and others might have alleged.
“We disagree largely with the Judges that “those who hinge their arguments on the unfounded notion of mandatory 25% in FCT are either clueless of the constitution or pathologically mischievous (or both).”
“NADECO also wondered if the court did not bother to test all the hypotheses and empirical evidence presented by independent observers such as the European Union.
NADECO also disagreed with the court’s handling of IREV evidence against the opposition political parties.
Besides, it expressed worry that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could set out regulations and guidelines and blatantly flout them simply because the law initially allowed the INEC to choose their preferred procedure.
“The Court queries that the petitioners should have gone to the respective states to obtain INEC’s certified documents in a presidential election; the same documents the INEC chairman used in announcing election results in Abuja.
“NADECO concedes that this might be the position of the law but it is rather absurd. The least the law can do for an election petitioner is to compel INEC to handover verified documents immediately.
“For us, these are not the main problem. The most ridiculous pronouncement was by Justice Ugo. He is entitled to his position, and we respect it. Nevertheless, we are free to find it ridiculous. This is because he propounded the probability test and applied it in a bizarre manner.
“To paraphrase what he posited, if INEC had faked the glitch and manipulated the results of the elections, then how did Peter Obi clean up the votes in the Southeast and Abuja? He further stated that if INEC manipulated the results and left Obi with so many votes, then INEC must be a stupid manipulator.
“We feel the respected judge was overzealous. He probably did not address his mind to the fact that a smart manipulator would keep one eye on credibility. Also, in this instance, we are forced to ask if the judge was not grandstanding.”
The coalition however said it respects all the judges but “there are many aspects of September 6th judgment that have left election riggers in a celebratory mood.
It said the fault is not with the judges but blamed the Nigerian laws which “are poorly drafted thereby leaving interpretation of laws subject to carefully written arbitrariness.”
“Unfortunately, once the Nigerian juror makes up his mind to a predetermined end, it does not matter how well crafted the constitution is, he/she will still spin a yarn to get to the predetermined end. It is therefore sad that the Judges made a better defense for Tinubu than the lawyers of Bola Tinubu.
“NADECO’s sincere worry is that professional legal practice will experience a decline as there will no longer be any incentive for a Legal practitioner to work hard and smart, in winning a case anymore in Nigeria, particularly so, with this sort of cash and carry judgment. All that is required is to be on the side of the man with the higher cash, power and connection.”
“NADECO urged Nigerians to remain resolute and to continue to see the Tinubu administration as a passing interloper while calling on the citizens to stand up to injustice.
“Nigerians must be ready to fight to defend our democracy. Nigerians must also know that since the judiciary has failed and therefore, the only option is for the people to dispense justice by themselves. In the universal rule, if what belongs to you was taken away from you and the judiciary fails to restore it back to you, the only option left is for you to get it by yourself peacefully.
“In 1962, John F. Kennedy famously said, “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.”
“Nigerians should get ready to demand and get what belongs to them following the disappointment by the so-called “Judiciary.” If Nigerians do not fight for themselves, the big question is; who will fight for them, the judiciary?
The coalition also took a swipe at the retired justice of the Supreme Court, Mary Odili over her remark before the ruling by the tribunal.
It said it had expected Odili to “maintain her dignity” but she decided to support the president government by making certain pronouncements without weighing their ethical implications.
