PDP accuses appeal court over tribunal results
The office of the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa has been accused by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over what the party described as undue interference in ongoing election petition cases.
According to the party, reports emanating from Justice Bulkachuwa's office indicated that there were moves to sway judgments against PDP candidates at the various election petition tribunals and other judicial cases.
In a statement released on Monday by Chief Olisa Metuh, PDP's National Publicity Secretary, the party cautioned against attempts to detract from the sanctity of the judiciary just to favour candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The statement reads: "While we would not want to believe that the President of the Court of Appeal is so involved, given the sensitivity of her office, we wish to caution in very strong terms, that such is completely unacceptable as it principally detracts from the sanctity of the judiciary as the citadel of justice and erode the trust reposed on it by the people.
"We expect the President of the Court of Appeal to understand that an impartial judiciary is critical to the survival of our democracy and the stability of this nation. In this regard, therefore, we urge her to ensure that there is no further interference in electoral matters in tribunals and courts, as they must be allowed to run through the full course of justice.
"Furthermore, we wish to reiterate our earlier call on the Chief Justice of the Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed to guide jealously the independence of the judiciary which he heads, and ensure that any activity that tends to undermine the sanctity of this arm of government is stiffly resisted in the interest of democracy.
"In any case, the PDP restates that it will continue to closely monitor proceedings in various tribunals and other judicial cases, and will use every means within the ambit of the law to ensure that nobody, no matter how highly placed, interferes in judicial matters, especially political cases ".
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