Presidential tribunal: PDP accuses APC of intimidating Judiciary

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja 

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the written address by President Tinubu and  APC lawyers to the PEPC is a pre-emptive move to intimidate the judiciary.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, yesterday, said the lawyers in the address allegedly threatened crisis and anarchy in the country in the event that the tribunal  rules that their clients did not meet the constitutionally required 25 per cent votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The opposition party noted  that the alleged threat “is subversive, an affront to Democratic Order and assault on the corporate existence of the nation.”

PDP said it was alarming and disturbing that the APC externalised to the public, their final written address in which they also threatened national peace if the court upholds the clear provisions of Section 134 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) with regard to the mandatory and statutory requirements for which a candidate in a presidential election can be declared winner.

“The threats, either through counsel or officials of the APC is calculated to intimidate and harass the judiciary and indeed Nigerians.The PDP holds that the clear intent of the APC is to blackmail the court and emasculate the independence of the judiciary to discharge its duties in accordance with the dictates of the law. This action is ostensibly to set the stage to orchestrate violent crisis in various parts of the country with the intention to further blackmail the PEPC.

“We ask, why is the APC externalizing their final written address to the public? Is the APC being pre-emptive and now seeks to heighten tension, subvert the judicial process and trigger anarchy, having realized the weakness of their case before the PEPC. The statutory requirements for a winner in a Presidential election as provided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022 are clear and unambiguous.  

“The APC must, therefore, respect the provisions of the law and allow the judiciary to discharge its duties independently, without threats, intimidation and coercion.

“Contrary to the doomsday claims of the APC and its lawyers, upholding the provisions of the constitution and the laws at this point will rather promote peace and stability in the polity, deepen our democracy and engender confidence in the Institution of the judiciary.”