Group expresses worry over supreme court judgements

A group known as group, Grassroot Democracy, has expressed concerns over the recent Supreme Court judgements on governorship petitions across some states in the country.

In a statement, president of the group Sebastian Danladi, flayed the judgments and said they could have terrible implications on the nation’s polity.

“The ruling is sending dangerous signals across the country. How can elections that were clearly marred by violence and irregularities be upheld? What the affirmation of elections of governors who clearly rigged elections means is that in 2019, it will be a do or die affair, because politicians will know that once they win through whatever means the Supreme Court will affirm their elections. What happened to the judiciary which used to be the last hope of the common man”, he said.

He expressed concerns over the Taraba matter which is currently before the Supreme Court, adding “already there are rumours that some powerful people in the state are working to subvert justice”.
I hope the Supreme Court will do the right thing.  At the moment, people have lost faith in the judiciary and a lot of people are even wondering if going to the courts after an election is not just a waste of time. The apex court still has an opportunity to do something right by returning Hajia Aisha Alhassan of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as winner of the poll. The law is clear on the matter in Taraba, so we urge the court to do right by the people”, he said.

He wondered how despite the video clips of violence and irregularities during the election, the PDP candidates of Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia, could be returned as governors of their respective states.

“It is really sad that so many people died in the violence that erupted during the elections in the above mentioned states.
Relatives of victims of the violence would have felt a little relief if the elections were upturned, but with these judgements, it means that the victims died in vain. We fear for the future of democracy in this country. A democracy where people can do whatever they like is not the best at all”, he said.

Danladi urged judges of the apex court to be fair enough with judgments so that the country would not be plunged into a crisis.