The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on
the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, to immediately protect
the institution of the judiciary from the “unconstitutional, repressive and
fascist” policies being allegedly foisted on the system by the President
Muhammadu Buhari-led presidency.
The opposition party also called on the Chairman of
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, not
to succumb to alleged pressure by the presidency to return Mrs. Amina Zakari as
Director of Operations.
The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr.
Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement on Monday in Abuja said the Executive Order 6
as well as the travel ban and trailing of citizens were devised to directly
interfere in judicial processes and stifle accused persons of resources, under
the guise of speedy trial, saying it has left no one in doubt that Nigeria is
fast sliding into fascism.
The opposition party added that Buhari presidency
has commenced an attack on the independence of the judiciary, using the
instrument of blackmail and aspersion on its integrity and capacity to
effectively and timeously dispense justice.
The PDP stressed that the travel ban, trailing of
citizens and attempt to regulate the processes of the court was therefore an
attempt to short-circuit the constitutional powers of the judiciary and foist a
fascist regime where the presidency becomes the investigator, prosecutor and
the judge in determination of trumped-up charges against innocent Nigerians.
Ologbondiyan stated: “In trying to use his
Executive Order 6 to determine the process, procedures and progression of cases
in court, the Buhari presidency directly seeks to usurp, commandeer and
appropriate the constitutional powers of the judiciary and then arm-twist the
courts and use them as slaughterhouses for opposition members and perceived
political opponents.’’
The PDP called on Nigerians to note that the action
of the Buhari presidency was a direct attempt to suspend sections 6 (6)(b), 36
(5), (6)(d) and 37 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Ologbondiyan noted that while section 6 (6)(b)
provides that judicial powers of the court shall ‘extend to all matters between
persons, or between government or authority and to any person in Nigeria, and
to all actions and proceedings relating thereto, for the determination of any
question as to the civil rights and obligations of that person.”
He added that Section 36 (6) (d) provides that
“every person who is charged with a criminal offence shall be entitled to be
given adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence.’’
The PDP stated categorically that it rejects any
attempt by this administration to return our country to pre-1984 military
dictatorship, where siege mentality and suppression of rights of citizens was
the rule rather than the exception.
The party urged the judiciary-as the last hope of
the common man-to immediately insulate itself from the evil machination of the
All Progressives Congress (APC), which it said is now trying to turn the
judiciary into an instrument of oppression against Nigerians.
The opposition party also charged INEC not to
change its statute-backed stand on the exclusion of Zamfara State chapter of
APC from presenting candidates in the 2019 general election, following its
failure to conduct congresses.
The PDP cautioned that Nigerians are already aware
of the pressure from the Buhari presidency to return Amina Zakari, ‘a blood
relation’ of President Buhari, as Director Operation so that they can use her
to manipulate the electoral processes and rig the election for President
Buhari.
“While the PDP notes the redeployment of Zakari to
another directorate, the party nevertheless, reaffirms its position that her
continuous stay in the commission constitutes a threat to free, fair and
credible 2019 general election given her relationship with President Buhari,
who is a major contender in the election,” the major opposition party stated.
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