Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has expressed concerns about the unprecedented pressure and intimidation faced by the judiciary in relation to presidential election petitions.
He emphasized that such tactics of intimidation are unnecessary, as there is still an opportunity for parties to appeal to the Supreme Court.
During an appearance on Channels, Falana remarked that there has never been a presidential election petition in the country that has garnered as much attention as the current one, dating back to colonial rule.
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Femi Falana advises judges not to be intimidated
“We have witnessed election petitions since the colonial era, but none has witnessed the level of blackmail and intimidation directed at the judiciary,” Falana lamented.
He expressed worry over the perception among new voters that their preferred candidate must be declared the winner, highlighting that there are other purposes than election tribunals.
Instead, the role of the justices is to objectively examine the evidence presented by the parties, apply the law, and render a decision.
Falana firmly stated that the judges should not succumb to intimidation, emphasizing that they should deliver their judgments based on their assessment of the evidence and the law.
He also stressed that those who are dissatisfied with the outcome at the Court of Appeal still have the option to seek redress at the Supreme Court and demonstrate how the Court of Appeal may have erred in their case.
PEPT to deliver Presidential Election judgement on September 6th
In another news, The Presidential Election Tribunal in Abuja is set to deliver its judgment on petitions challenging the election of President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, September 6.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, have both filed petitions before the PEPT, contesting the results of the February 25 presidential election, which saw President Bola Tinubu emerge victorious while running on the platform of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The outcome of this judgment is expected to have significant implications for the political landscape of Nigeria, as the nation eagerly awaits the tribunal’s decision on the validity of the election results.
