Afrigather Earlier than the February 25, 2023 presidential election, there was a considerably ‘hope rising’ feeling within the air, as many Nigerians deliberate to make use of their votes to reclaim the nation from the egocentric and non-performing politicians, who’ve held the nation hostage and its improvement dwarfed because the return to democratic rule in 1999.
Immediately, that feeling appears to be changed with anger and frustration as many consider that the consequence as introduced by the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) didn’t mirror what they voted for.
As anticipated, the events and their presidential candidates that consider their mandates have been stolen have since gone to courtroom to problem the outcomes.
All eyes are actually on the judiciary.
The Nigerian judiciary is struggling to realize folks’s confidence on account of so many alternatives it has had within the current previous to save lots of democracy or set sound priority, however dissatisfied with its publicly criticised rulings.
That worry that the judiciary can’t be trusted can be a purpose to ask if the judiciary can save the nation as each presidential candidates of the Labour Social gathering and Peoples Democratic Social gathering are at present in courtroom to problem the declaration of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate because the winner of the February twenty fifth ballot.
Chijioke Umelahi, former Abia lawmaker and authorized practitioner, thinks that the judiciary has by no means been impartial as appointment of the judges is closely influenced by the President.
Contemplating that lack of independence, Umelahi argued that the judiciary can’t be trusted to save lots of the nation within the authorized battles following any unpopular declaration by the INEC.
“I don’t see the judiciary that lacked energy to problem the chief or to checkmate the excesses of the legislature doing one thing to rewrite its identify in gold. The calibre of judges there appears compromised,” Umelahi mentioned.
Contemplating the above argument, many decry that it’s nonetheless the identical judiciary that made the very unpopular and undemocratic judgment within the final Imo State gubernatorial election, with the unfavorable fallout nonetheless trailing the state.
Until date, many mock Hope Uzodinma, the governor of Imo State, because the ‘Supreme Courtroom Governor’. Imo folks see his authorities as illegitimate, which reportedly accounted for the excessive degree of insecurity within the state.
Lately, the Supreme Courtroom’s declaration of Ahmad Lawan as APC’s Yobe North senatorial candidate and Godswill Akpabio because the validly nominated APC candidate for Akwa-Ibom North-West senatorial seat based mostly on technicalities, didn’t go down effectively with the generality of Nigerians.
Each participated as aspirants on the APC presidential primaries, and by legislation, forfeiting different political places of work. However the Supreme Courtroom dominated of their favour after dropping on the presidential primaries of their occasion.
These are among the worrisome circumstances that make many Nigerians to additional lose confidence within the judiciary, and in addition don’t see it salvaging the nation’s democracy.
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“If the Supreme Courtroom can rule {that a} candidate who got here third in an election can turn into the governor and right now he’s, it means it may well do extra on the presidential degree due to the profit that may come to the judges afterwards,” Peter Oseni, a serving senior public servant, mentioned.
In keeping with him, the judiciary is closely compromised and the system of appointing the judges is now not on benefit as Mr. President can choose undeserving judges and make them his puppet on the higher echelon courtroom.
“In case you have adopted the form of judges now we have had on the Supreme Courtroom particularly since Buhari got here to energy, you’ll discover that the majority of them will not be probably the most senior, most certified and are thought-about based mostly on Mr. President’s standards. So, they are going to be answerable to the President and to not Nigerians. These Mr. President appointed judges are nonetheless on the Enchantment and Supreme courts, Abubakar Malami remains to be there too, so how do you anticipate common sense for the folks,” Oseni argued.
Toeing a distinct line, Samuel Onikoyi, a Nigerian academia in Belgium, famous that the Supreme Courtroom might probably save its identify and regain folks’s confidence with a shock ruling within the presidential election debacle.
“We all know the courtroom has failed, however not all of them are compromised. Keep in mind that the ruling on Ahmad Lawan’s senatorial candidacy for Yobe North was a three-against-two break up judgment of the Supreme Courtroom’s five-member panel.
“So, there are nonetheless some upright judges on the market on the Supreme Courtroom, Justice Mary Odili proved herself whereas there, there are others and aggrieved plenty can get judgment on the Supreme Courtroom this time,” Onikoyi mentioned.
Saying that the present circumstances earlier than the judiciary could also be a make or mar for the arm of presidency, Onikoyi mentioned: Nicely, Nigerians await the Supreme Courtroom to show them incorrect, regain its misplaced confidence or enable illegitimacy to thrive.”
Onyeka Ikwunze, a Political Science lecturer at Abia State College, Uturu, mentioned that there was hope this time on the Supreme Courtroom as a result of the brand new Electoral Act has been contravened, and that there’s a lot proof that can not be thwarted and the attorneys know all these.
“I see the Supreme Courtroom standing with the folks due to the clear proof and the truth that INEC violated the provisions of the brand new Electoral Act. Once more, the truth that the outcomes have been written manually slightly than utilizing the brand new machines, which Nigeria spent billions of Naira to amass, are sufficient to cancel the consequence. The worry now shall be cash to carry one other election if the Supreme Courtroom guidelines for rerun of the election,” Ikwunze mentioned.
Some optimistic minds additionally assume that whereas Abubakar Malami, Lawyer Common of the Federation and Minister of Justice of Nigeria, is understood to assist the federal government of the day, Olukayode Ariwoola, the brand new Chief Justice of Nigeria, who emerged on benefit, might probably set issues proper.
“I feel lots of people will not be proud of the judgments popping out of our courts in current time, have a look at the Imo State case the place a sitting governor was eliminated by questionable judgment. The judiciary is at its lowest ebb now.
“However we hope they’ll redeem themselves with this presidential election matter and let the need of Nigerians prevail,” Tope Musowo, a public affairs analyst, mentioned.
Musowo famous {that a} reform of the judiciary in Nigeria was overdue.
“There are such a lot of issues incorrect with our judiciary there isn’t any doubt the system wants reform, even from the appointment of judges to infrastructures on the courts,” he added.
Eddy Olafeso, a politician, mentioned that the judiciary has alternative to redeem itself in view of current criticism, stressing that the worldwide neighborhood and everybody could be watching with eager curiosity.
“I feel the judiciary is conscious of the general public confidence in them is now very low, you possibly can see the criticism that trailed the Lawan judgement, however I feel they’ll redeem themselves with the presidential election case.
“It is a chance for them, all eyes are on them, let’s wait and see what would occur this time round. The events could be presenting their case and I can inform you that in contrast to prior to now, justice can’t be stolen this time round,” he mentioned.
