Anastasia Okechukwu ReportingÂ
An Igbo group under the aegis of Igbo Patriotic Forum (IPF) has urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kayode Oriwoola, not to swear in the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, until cases challenging his declaration as winner of the February 25 elections are decided by the apex court.
IPF Chairman, Simon Okeke, who made the statement yesterday at a press briefing in Abuja, said since the constitution of Nigeria allows anyone who is aggrieved with results announced by INEC to go to court, that is the main reason that no one should be sworn in as the winner before the apex court pronounces who, in its opinion, is the true winner of that election.
He then explained that swearing-in anyone as the winner of the February 25 election is premature and nothing other than announcing the result of the match in the middle of the game.
Okeke further adviced the judiciary to consider the general interest of the millions of Nigerians, as well as the cooperate existence of Nigeria in handling the electoral petitions to avoid a miscarriage of justice.
In his words, “Following the controversial February 25 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections and the consequent unprecedented tension and criticisms that trailed the INEC announcement of the presidential election results, the country’s judiciary is on trial.
“Since INEC failed to meet most of its set guidelines including the failure to transmit votes as promised, from the polling units to fit central server, the announced presidential results have been challenged by five of the major political parties in the country including the Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party.
“We, therefore, call on the country’s judiciary to consider the general interest of the millions of Nigerians, as well as the cooperate existence of Nigeria in handling these electoral petitions to avoid a miscarriage of justice that may precipitate a serious crisis in the country.
“Since the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) allows anyone aggrieved after the announcement by INEC of the general election result to go on appeal from the tribunal to the Supreme Court to determine the final winner of the election, it stands to reason that no one should be sworn in as the winner before the apex court pronounces who, in its opinion, is the true winner of that election.
“Common sense requires that until the apex court pronounces who the winner is, the election is only mid- way and not over yet.
“Consequently, swearing-in anyone as the winner of that election is premature and nothing other than announcing the result of the match in the middle of the game.
“The match ends with the apex court announcing who in its opinion is the winner of that election.”