Peter Okoye, PBA Journalism MenteeAn eminent group of leaders of thoughts and legal icons have urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria to ensure live broadcast of the upcoming election petition cases in the country for all Nigerians to see.
The group also asked the judiciary to allow judgments to be delivered before the scheduled date of the swearing-in of newly elected political officers.
The call was made in Lagos on Sunday by the Director, Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies ( CIAPS), Anthony Kila.
The centre observed that “the recently concluded 2023 elections have left Nigeria in a gravely divisive state with some parts of the country considering the elections as fair, arguing that elections results reflect the wishes of the people, while a significant bloc of the country views the elections as highly flawed and considers the results unacceptable which is increasing the political tension in the country.
Kila, a Professor of Strategy and Development, added that the group invites Nigerians to sign up for an appeal on comonvoiceng; a non-partisan online platform, created to enable Citizens to express their views on issues concerning public governance and their well-being.
Kila maintained that the judiciary, headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) should ensure that the Presidential election cases are made public and judgments delivered before 29th May to calm the political tension in the country.
“As concerned citizens, we believe that one of the best ways to douse the tension in the country, restore unity and legitimize the incoming government is to make sure that all parts of the country get a convincing, transparent and timely adjudication of the electoral cases that will give all sides in the country a sense of satisfaction and justice in bringing to an end the burgeoning political acrimony and tension over the 2023 elections.
“To this end, the group is appealing to the Chief Justice of Nigeria to use his powers to ensure that:
Electoral cases in court are made truly public by ensuring accredited media coverage of proceedings.
“Electoral cases in court, especially the Presidential Elections Petitions, are adjudicated and dispensed with before the swearing-in date of 29th May 2023.”
He, however, recalled that a Leading human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), National President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Yakubu Maikyau and key leaders of thought of Project Nigeria Movement, (PNM) a body of eminent leaders of thought in the country led by Prof Ben Nwabueze (SAN) among others have already backed calls for a live broadcast of the proceedings of the presidential election tribunal and for final adjudication on the Presidential election Petition before the swearing-in date to save the country that is according him, at the verge of splitting.
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