The Edo State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday described the recent Supreme Court judgment in Imo State Governorship Election as an abuse of judicial authority and a usurpation of the statutory duties of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party made the remarks during a peaceful protest against the judgment to the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State council.
The Publicity Secretary of the party, Chris Osa Nehikhare, who spoke for the protesting party members and civil society groups, noted that the judiciary has become a rubber stamp of the executive.
Nehikhare said the protest tagged, ‘Deepening democracy in Nigeria- signing the electoral law amendment by Muhammadu Buhari’, was aimed at reinforcing the previous protests nationwide which rejected the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Imo State governorship election.
He said it was also aimed at highlighting the need and exigency of assenting to the amended electoral law.
The opposition party, which also called for the immediate assenting to the amended electoral law by President Muhammadu Buhari, noted that assenting to the electoral law will substantially eliminate electoral malpractices in the country.
According to him, “There is a clear and present danger to the survival of democracy in Nigeria if the electoral laws and processes are not reviewed to suit transparent and open processes.
“The Imo State ruling is a clear misuse of judicial authority and a usurpation of the statutory duties of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“The legalising of the card reader will eliminate the absurd judgments where votes recorded surpass number of accredited voters and the law will turn a blind eye to this obvious anomaly.”
He recalled that over the years controversies have surrounded elections across the country because the processes, from the ballot box to the tribunal rulings have been manipulated.
“It is critical therefore, to bring to the attention of the Federal Government of Nigeria and the governments of the United States of America, The United Kingdom, Germany, France, China and other members of the United Nations General Assembly, that there are no credible, free, transparent and fair elections in Nigeria.
