Pro- democracy group, Stand Up Nigeria (SUN) has called on the authorities to protect judicial officers in the country. National Coordinator of the group, Patriot Sunday Attah, at a press conference in Abuja called on those dissatisfied with the outcome of decisions taken by the election petition tribunals in the country to explore legitimate means to address their grievances.
A group was reacting to the recent attacks on the judiciary before and after the verdict by the Tribunal which nullified the victory of Governor Abba Yusuf in the Kano Governorship poll.
Calling on the leadership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) to accept the judgement in good faith, the group warned against any act that could breach the peace in Kano state.
According to the group, the judgement serves as deterrent to politicians who float electoral laws and make elections do or die affair. We had warn politicians severally to discourage their supporters from rigging and violence during elections as democracy is the government of the people by the people for the people.
He said: “You don’t have to intimidate the judiciary or cause war because you loose an election. The tenure is four years after which a fresh elections would be conducted.
“You may prepare yourself to contest again instead of sponsoring people to blackmail highly respected Justices of the election petition tribunal and intimidate the Appeal Court Judges all in a bid to reverse a sound judgement already delivered.
“We understand that, Kano has an International market which makes it a home to all Nigerians irrespective of religion and tribe. Kano indigenes are also scattered in other States of the Federation without fear of molestation. No one has monopoly of violence.
“The Judges must be encourage and supported by all Nigerians as they deliver more critical judgements that would strengthen our democracy.
“The NNPP and it’s government must come out openly to retract its violent threat being issued by its supporters including a Commissioner under Engr Abba Kabir Yusuf.
“Here is a man ordinarily referred to as Honourable Commissioner, so, where is the Honourable? . It shows how deep the NNPP must have gone in term of intimidation of judicial officers in secret before it was made public.
“We believe that the intimidation and threat being mounted are targeted towards the Apeal Court judges in order to bully them.
“We urged our Honourable Justices of the Appeal Court to to scumble to their antic but always stand on the part of justice. We have offered to stand by the judiciary and help protect the institution once it continue to maintains the part of justice.”
While recalling similar judgement in the case of Edo State election petition tribunal nullified the election of Senator Osunbor of the Peoples Democratic Party and declared Adams Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria, winner, it noted: “We condemn the leadership of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP who have being threatening the judges and general peace of Kano State using its supporters, to understand that, trying to intimidate the judiciary in order to force the Judges to their side would amount to miscarriage of justice.”
The group thanked President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing enabling environment for the judiciary to operate without interference.
THEGUARDIAN
