Politics

Atiku Expresses Worry Over Delay In Naming Supreme Court Justices To Hear Appeal Suit

Published

5 years ago

Oct 26, 2019.

The Peoples Democratic Party PDP presidential candidate in the last presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has expressed worry over the delay in the naming Supreme Court Justices that would preside over the appeal suit filed against the judgment of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal upholding the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari.
It could be recalled that the PDP candidate had filed a suit against president Buhari challenging his victory at the poll in 2019 general elections at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.
The tribunal had also in its verdict quashed the petition of Atiku and upheld the victory of Buhari as the elected president.
Atiku and his legal counsel expressed their concerns on Friday in Abuja over the inability of the Supreme Court to name the Justices that would preside over the case.
The PDP presidential candidate who spoke through his media aid Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN), stressed that he hoped the interest of Atiku would not be compromised as a result of the delay.
He said “We hope that when eventually the panel is constituted there will be enough time to robustly look at the issues. We hope they will have the requisite time to do that and look at the issues. That should be the concern of everybody so that justice is not compromised. We hope that our interest and the interest of Atiku Abubakar in this matter will not be compromised on account of time. We are concerned. We are worried about it. We do not know why it is taking this long.
“The mandate we are talking about is the mandate we believe was given to him by Nigerians and Nigerians should also be concerned and worried. We are anxiously awaiting the resolution of issues that are in contention at the Supreme Court.
“I believe that the Supreme Court understands what their duties and responsibilities are in this democratic process. They should also take into consideration that people, like Atiku Abubakar, have a constitutional responsibility to contest an election that they have adjudged was not free and fair. I believe that the Supreme Court understands its role and if it does not, that should concern anybody. What is involved in this process is to strengthen our democracy.
“After (the President of the Court of Appeal) Justice (Zainab) Bulkachuwa had recused herself, it took a long time to name a replacement for her. Time was lost. Any Nigerian, not only Atiku Abubakar should be worried and ask what is holding the naming of the justices.
“Our concern is that whatever it is; let it be done within the provisions of the law. We believe that they also are taking care and due cognisance of the time that is allowed for the appeal to be heard and be disposed of with. So we want to believe that they are also conscious of the time.”