Supreme Court Judgement: Heavy Moral Burden On National Conscience –  Peter Obi

By Ayodele Oni

The Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has said Nigerians are disappointed in the judgement of the Supreme Court, which upheld the election of President Bola Tinubu.

Obi affirmed his rejection of the apex Court verdict, which he described as breach of trust of Nigerians in judiciary.

At a world press conference on Monday, in Abuja, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, (LP) said the Supreme Court ignored rigging, identity theft, forgery, and perjury in its judgment.

“The Supreme Court ignore rigging, identity theft, forgery, perjury and does not represent the stand of our constitution.”

He accused the apex court of ignoring evidence which he said further dampens citizens’ trust in the judiciary.

“Without equivocation, this judgment amounts to a breach of confidence Nigerians have in our judiciary.

“To that extent, it is a show of unreasonable force against the very Nigerian people from whom the power of the Nigerian citizens is drawn.

“As someone who has previously benefited from the rulings of the Supreme Court on electoral matters, I have, after a period of deep and sober reflection, decided to personally and formally react to the recent judgment as most Nigerians have.

“Because we are confronted with   very   weighty   issues   of   national   interest,   I   will   speak forthrightly.   As   students   young   lads   at   CKC,   Onitsha,   we   were taught values and admonished to always;  “choose the harder right, instead of the easier wrong.”

“Setting legal issues aside, the Supreme Court exhibited a disturbing aversion to public opinion just as it abandoned its responsibility as a court of law and policy.

“It is, therefore, with great dismay that I observe that   the   Court’s   decision   contradicts   the   overwhelming   evidence   of election   rigging,   false   claim   of   a   technical   glitch,   substantial   non-compliance with rules set by INEC itself as well as matters of perjury, identity theft, and forgery that have been brought to light in the course of this election matter.

“These were hefty allegations that should not to be treated   with   levity.   More   appalling,   the   Supreme   Court   judgment willfully condoned breaches of the Constitution relative to established qualifications  and   parameters   for   candidates   in   presidential  elections.

“With   this   counter-intuitive   judgment,   the   Supreme   Court   has transferred   a   heavy   moral   burden   from   the   courtrooms   to   our national conscience.

“Our young democracy is ultimately the main victim and casualty of the courtroom drama.

“Without equivocation, this judgment amounts to a total breach of the confidence the Nigerian people have in our judiciary. To that extent, it is a show  of  unreasonable force  against the  very Nigerian people  from whom the power of the Constitution derives.

“This Supreme Court ruling may represent the state of the law in 2023 but not the present demand for substantive   justice.

“The   judgment   mixed   principles   and   precepts. Indeed, the rationale and premise of the Supreme Court judgment, have become clearer in the light of the deep revealing and troubling valedictory   remarks   by   Hon.   Justice   Musa   Dattijo   Muhammad, (JSC) on Friday 27th October 2023.”