A group under the aegis of South-South Youths Initiatives has condemned the court judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Sen. David Mark and voided the emergence of former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, as the Presidential Candidate of the ADC for the 2027 general elections.
In a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Imeabe Saviour Oscar, the group said that the judgement, coming barely 24 hours after the massive and successful ADC Presidential campaign rally in Sokoto State, was not only suspicious in timing, but also a clear assault on democracy, on the rule of law, and on the right of Nigerians to freely choose their leaders.
“We ask a simple question: Why is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu afraid of going into contest with other Presidential Candidates?
“If the President is confident of his performance and confident of the support of Nigerians, why must the opposition be weakened through the courts? Why must every strong opponent be removed by judicial pronouncements instead of being defeated at the ballot box?
“A true democrat does not fear competition. A true leader does not run away from contest. Democracy thrives on choice, not on elimination”.
The group further condemned the Nigerian system of politics where the judiciary was being turned into a weapon to destroy opposition parties; where judgments are delivered to serve political interests, and where the will of the people was sacrificed on the altar of power.
“This is not democracy. This is judicial rascality dressed in legal robes. This is a dangerous path that is capable of setting Nigeria on fire”, it stated.
It, therefore, called on the Nigerian Judiciary to live up to expectations.
” The Judiciary is supposed to be the last hope of the common man, not the last weapon of the ruling class.
“We particularly remind the Chief Judge of the Federation and the Chief Justice of Nigeria that Nigerians have continued to lose confidence in the Nigerian Judiciary because of judgements like this – judgements that contradict earlier judgements of courts of coordinate jurisdiction, judgements that come at politically convenient times, and judgements that appear to serve the interest of those in power.
“We remind the Judiciary that history will judge it. Posterity will remember whether it stood for justice or stood for power.
“We call on all Nigerian youths, all lovers of democracy, and the international community to rise and condemn this brazen attempt to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.
“Let Atiku Abubakar, let Peter Obi, let every candidate be allowed to test their popularity at the polls. Let Nigerians decide. Let the ballot, not the court, decide who becomes President in 2027. Nigeria belongs to all of us”, the statement read.
