The National Chairman of Labour Party (LP), Barr. Julius Abure, has said that the Supreme Court judgement which affirmed President Bola Tinubu’s election shredded “the sacred fabric of justice and good conscience”.
In a statement he personally signed Abure described today as “another sad day for democracy in Nigeria”.
Recall that a seven-member panel of justices sitting in Abuja dismissed the appeals filed by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and his LP counterpart, Peter Obi.
In a unanimous decision, the apex court held that Obi’s appeal deserved to be dismissed.
In the lead judgement that was delivered by Justice Inyang Okoro, the court held that issues Obi raised in his case were already decided in a separate appeal that was filed by Atiku of the PDP.
Justice Okoro noted that the only distinct issue that Obi raised in his appeal, was the issue that the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, had double nominations from the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The court held that it had earlier decided the issue on May 26, in an appeal marked: SC/CV/501/2023.
“This court cannot allow the matter to be relitigated in this court. There must be an end to litigation. This matter ought not to have come here.
“The appeal lacks merit and it is accordingly dismissed,” the apex court held.
Reacting, Abure said, “The leadership of Labour Party watched as the sacred fabric of justice and good conscience was shredded today at the Supreme Court as it delivered its verdict in the case between our party the Presidential candidate and the APC Presidential candidate.
“We are indeed very shocked and surprised that even the apex Court will toe the line of an earlier judgement in spite of all the flaws associated with the judgement delivered by the Presidential Election Appeal Tribunal.
“Having conclusively exercised our fundamental rights as gifted to us by the laws of the land, we have no other choice but to move on. We may be disappointed and dismayed by the outcome of the exercise, but we have chosen to trudge on and to remain optimistic of what the future holds for the nation.
“We weep for our Institutions that cannot rise to the occasion and courageously defend democracy and the voices of our people.”
The LP National Chairman however said that there were great lessons to be learnt.
“What transpired in Nigeria since the February 25 presidential election is a clear testament that our institutions are not working and that we may be sliding towards dictatorship.
“It is very clear that the executive has hijacked both the judiciary and the legislature. This is so unfortunate for our democracy, and it is even more for the people of Nigeria.
“All what our forbearers taught us has been destroyed within a short space of time because of the Unbridled ambition of a few. The founding fathers fought with their lives to achieve independence for the country. People lost their lives for the struggle to keep our democracy and all these years people have been struggling to achieve electoral and constitutional reforms. Regrettably, all of these efforts and struggles have been destroyed today.”
Abure said that the LP has learnt that the government may have marked some key leaders of the party, including himself and Peter Obi, for vilification.
“The planned persecution, intimidation, suppression and harassment of our leaders using security agencies and all other government institutions will be definitely defended.
“We are therefore calling on all our members, and the Obidient family to be vigilant and brace up for the challenges ahead. The struggle for a New Nigeria will certainly be tortuous and hard,” he said.
The LP chairman also called on the international community to help defend democracy in Nigeria.
“Your voices were loud and clear in condemnation of the outcome of the presidential election.
“As we approach the next stage of our democratic journey, we call on you to stand by the millions of Nigerians who are already pushed beyond their limits into unnecessary hardship and penury,” he said.
Abure also urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country.
“Though we are paying a huge price to achieve a Nigeria of our desire. We are hopeful that we will get to our destination someday because where there is a will, certainly, there will be a way,” he said.