From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
House of Representatives Minority Caucus has lauded the justices of the Supreme Court over their judgments on the gubernatorial petitions cases in Bauchi, Plateau, Abia, Zamfara, Kano anc Akwa Ibom states.
The caucus, in a statement by its leader, Kingsley Chinda, said the judgments have renewed the hope of Nigerians in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
Similarly, the minority lawmakers felicitated with Governors Bala Mohammed, Alex Otti, Umo Eno, Abba Yusuf, Caleb Mutfwang, Lawal Daudu of Bauchi, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Kano, Plateau and Zamfara states respectively for the victories at the apex court. The caucus also congratulated All Progressives Congress ( APC) governors, who won their cases at the Supreme Court and implored them to place the country above self.
“We applaud the Supreme Court Justices for ensuring that the sanctity of the votes of the people of these states was not compromised. These decisions have renewed the faith of the Nigerians in the Judiciary as it has demonstrated that it is the last hope of the commonman.
“These victories resonate not only with the opposition parties but also with the citizens of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Kano, Plateau, and Zamfara States, who voted massively for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP).
“While commending the Supreme Court for the courageous decisions handed down, which have vindicated our earlier position. It is imperative to refer to the decisions of the Court of Appeal and the National Assembly and State Elections Tribunals in respect of State Houses of Assembly and National Assembly elections in Plateau state, which sacked several PDP legislators on very questionable grounds. Grounds that the Supreme Court has set aside through these judgments.
” Although the said decisions cannot be appealed against even though they occasioned grave miscarriage of justice, the justices who handed them down should be seriously reprimanded to serve as a deterrent to other judges who may want to toe this path in future, ” the caucus stated.