The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that a cabal in the Presidency is out to emasculate the country’s democracy by overturning the will of the people in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters on Thursday, acting National Chairman of the party, Amb. Umar Damagum, also said there is an ongoing design by APC to “cripple democracy, overthrow the democratic rights of Nigerians, suppress the Rule of Law and downgrade our nation to a fiefdom run by the whims of a cabal.”
Damagum said it has become pertinent to alert Nigerians that the country is “fast sliding into totalitarianism following the activities of a cabal in the Presidency which is out to emasculate Institutions of Democracy, especially the Judiciary in the desperation to subvert and overturn the expressed Will of Nigerians in the various election matters across the country.”
According to him, “this sinister agenda tailored towards a systemic emasculation of the opposition and foisting of an oppressive one-Party system is evident in the conduct and outcome of certain election petitions in Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Delta, Ogun and other States of the nation where the Election Petition and Appeal Panels were used to rob the PDP of victory won at the polls.
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“Also of serious concern is the continuing stay of the patently bias Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel sitting in Abuja despite widespread demands by the people of Plateau State and the PDP for its immediate disbandment having regards to its varying and contradictory judgments against the PDP, which are also in conflict with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, INEC’s Guidelines and Regulations for elections.”
The opposition party said the concern and fear of well-meaning Nigerians is that when the Court conducts itself as if it is not governed by rules, it destroys the respect and confidence of the people in the judiciary and such portends a great danger for democracy, peace and tranquility in our country.
He called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the President of the Court of Appeal to save the situation by immediately insulating the Courts from the alleged influence of the anti-people cabal seeking to emasculate the judiciary and impose a totalitarian regime our country.
He also urged the CJN and the President of the Court of Appeal, as very experienced judicial officers, to restore confidence in the Judiciary by immediately disbanding the present Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel, set up a new Appeal Panel and subject the bias judgments by the Plateau State Election Appeal Court Panel to judicial review.
Damagum said: “This is the only way to avert crisis in Plateau State and redeem the image of the Judiciary from further negative public commentary.
“In this regard, the PDP invites all well-meaning Nigerians, Civil Society Organizations, the Media and indeed all lovers of democracy across the world to rise to the occasion, speak out and take urgent legitimate steps to defend the integrity of our judicial system and stem a looming crisis in our beloved country.”
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