Pro-democracy group urges Tinubu to brace up for Tribunal decision in interest of democracy

A pro-democracy group operating under the umbrella of Coalition for the Protection of Democracy, COPDEM has advised President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to brace up for the decision of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on the 2023 presidential elections.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, the Spokesperson for the group, Danjuma Garba Musa, condemned utterances by some personalities that tended to intimidate and threaten the independence of judiciary.

He said the damning report of the general election by some reputable foreign observers a fortnight ago were pointers that all was not well with the nation’s democracy, noting that it has become incumbent on all citizens to be committed to ensuring the practice of democracy in line with the global world standards.

COPDEM expressed concern that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who is involved in the electoral litigation could threaten anarchy if the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is overturned, saying such statement constituted a threat to the judiciary.

Mr Musa said: “The group is worried that It is a threat to the judiciary and rule of law for a senior advocate of Nigeria to presume and invoke anarchy in Nigeria if the victory of his client Bola Ahmed Tinubu is judiciously overturned by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) before the whole world.

“Further stated that observer report released by the reputable European Union election observers on the conduct of the 2023 electoral cycle is an unbiased testimony that indict state and non-state actors from the electoral body INEC, political parties, politicians and down to the electorates.

The group called on citizens irrespective of their political differences and career biases to support the nation’s democracy to succeed, rather than threat and intimidation because somebody’s interest may not be served by the judiciary.

“These are salient indications that our democracy is being threatened and must be protected by patriotic citizens through campaign projects that focus on government policies and actions as well as tasking the government to be responsive, transparent, prudent and democratic in all its policies and actions.

“Concerned that these can only be achieved through functional checks and balances among the arms of government through clear separation of powers and upholding the tenets of rule of law, unbiased and independent judiciary, active participation of citizens in politics and governance, among others.

“Since the inception of the incumbent APC led government, inaugurated 29th May 2023, the state of our nation’s democracy is not at its best and far from being commendable.

“The COPDEM stated that the threat to the judiciary and the rule of law is a major concern in addition to the increasing public outcry over the highhanded removal of subsidy that has plunged more Nigerians into poverty.

“Accordingly, the threats to the judiciary is a threat to democracy COPDEM believes in the rule of law and justice. Justice is the ultimate pillar of any democracy: it must be done and be seen to done.

“COPDEM is in support and advocates for the absolute independence and integrity of the judiciary as fundamental to the success of our democracy and for the peace and unity of Nigeria as a nation.“

COPDEM drawn the attention of the public to the requirement of 25% in the FCT is in the Nigerian constitution not a party constitution, upholding the provisions of the constitution is a fundamental democratic ideal while its interpretation and determination for all intents are the sole mandates of the judiciary.

Notably, such insinuations are threats to the peace and unity of Nigeria and therefore must be condemned and withdrawn.

We call on all Nigerian patriots, democrats and the legal profession to see this as a threat to the judiciary as an institution and our democracy.

We urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to dissociate himself from such anti democratic aberrations in line with his commitment to democracy and to express his readiness to accept the verdict of the court whether it is for him or against him and to challenge same in accordance with the rule of law.

COPDEM condemned the statement of some APC supporters that “only God can remove Bola Ahmed Tinubu from office”.

This statement is made out of sheer contempt and ignorance of the functions of the judiciary in democracy. The president like every other person is subject to the rule of law in a functional democracy.

We condemn in strong terms such unguided and unguarded utterances in the name of drumming support for the President for cheap political goals as anti-judicial, anti-democratic and capable of directly undermining our core democratic values.

The group in their statement warned the law enforcement agencies and the media and State actors in democracy to upholding the tenets of democracy in Nigeria to must remain unbiased.