Presidential spokesman of the Labour Party (LP), in the 2023 elections, Mr Kenneth Okonkwo, says commendations poured on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for not influencing the Supreme Court in its decisions on the governorship elections in Bauchi, Kano, Plateau, and Zamfara States were an indictment on the integrity of the judiciary.
Okonkwo, a lawyer by training, wrote on his X account, stressing that the time has come for the judiciary to firmly assert its independence and earn the trust of Nigerians.
He expressed reservations about the manner some Nigerians appreciated President Tinubu for not interfering in the decision of the apex Court in a democratic system in which the three arms of government are independent of each other.
The Supreme Court last week Friday, January 12, 2024, delivered judgment over the disputed 2023 governorship elections in Abia, Bauchi, Kano, Lagos, Plateau, and Zamfara States.
Following the judgment of the Supreme Court, some politicians and other Nigerians commended President Tinubu for his neutrality and refusal to interfere in the decision of the apex Court Supreme Court or prevail on the justices to rule in favour of his political party, the APC.
Commenting on the commendations on Tinubu, Okonkwo pointedly said that such a position was an indictment on the integrity of the judiciary.
According to him; “It out of place to suggest Tinubu could have directed the Supreme Court to decide the cases in a particular manner. It is very sad that people are thanking the President that he decided not to take Kano and Plateau States.
“This is an indictment of the Judiciary as being in the pocket of the President. This means that if the President had wanted to take Kano and Plateau, he would have effortlessly directed the Judiciary to decide in a particular manner.
“The Judiciary must get to the level where they must assert their independence and impartiality to earn the trust and respect of Nigerians,” he said.
