A group, Free Nigeria Movement, FNM, has said the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal is the last hope of many Nigerians who’s trust in the country has been battered by the controversial outcome of the presidential election.
The group, therefore, charged the tribunal to make sure the conduct of its proceedings follow “the rules of justice, equity, fairness, without any interruption or slightest detour from due process.”
FNM gave the charge in a statement issued in Abuja by the Convener, Moses Paul, on Monday.
Paul warned the group will not hesitate to protest against any fraudulent outcome of the tribunal.
He said Nigeria currently faces a challenge of character, stressing that it had the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, “Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu the tiniest strand of character, he would have saved Nigeria the embarrassment of the current imbroglio.”
He maintained that the electoral umpire, INEC, under Yakubu’s watch “demonstrated crass disregard for our laws including the Electoral Act of 2022 (as amended).”
Paul said, “The judges at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) are well aware of the enormous output of political consciousness in Nigerian during the last general elections especially the presidential election of 25th February, 2023, and the apathy that was witnessed in the gubernatorial election that followed. This should be a cause for concern to them and all Nigerians for that matter, and should guide their gavel in adjudicating on the matters before them.”
The Convener added, “We call on the judiciary through the judges of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) to be the voice of reason and save our democracy from collapse.”