THE 2023 NIGERIA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND THE JUDICIARY
We, the Board of Trustees of Diaspora Action for Democracy in Africa (DADA),
write to express our concern and voice our observations regarding the
awaited decisions of the Presidential Election Tribunal.
Over the past four weeks and in pursuit of our missions and objectives,
a Diaspora Action for Democracy in Africa (DADA) delegation embarked on
extensive discussions with Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora over
promoting democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria.
One major issue that has emerged as a matter of utmost national
importance not only to Nigerians, but to all Africans and friends of
Africa, is the 2023 Nigeria Presidential Election and consequent judicial
process.
The results from Nigeria’s general elections have come under
international scrutiny as courts considered several petitions.
We strongly believe and the judges know, that, in the history of
Nigeria, no other election tribunal has raised the consciousness of
Nigerians more than the 2023 presidential election which they are
currently presiding over.
Arising from our discussions with Nigerians from diverse backgrounds is
the concern that the Judiciary needs to be cautious because if their
verdict fails to satisfy the requirements of justice it may detonate the
youth’s simmering anger and set the country ablaze.
The Judiciary is the only institution that has all that it takes to save
this country from the threat of implosion. All eyes have been on the
Judiciary because of Nigeria’s respect for the law.
It does not mean that the members of the Presidential Election Tribunal
are in a better position in this case to tell Nigerians the person who
won the presidential election. Nigerians do not wait for any court to
tell them the winner of any election. It is the electorate that should
tell the court because they know more than the court whom they voted to
be their president.
Since it is the prerogative of the court to ensure that truth and
justice prevail in any election dispute, the court has been given enough
evidence to pronounce the real winner of the 2023 presidential election.
We deplore the threat by a candidate in the elections against the
Judiciary that if he is removed for not measuring up to the demands of
the electoral laws of the land there will be chaos and anarchy in the
country. On the contrary, what is likely to cause chaos and anarchy is
any attempt to pervert the course of justice and the will of the people.
The outlook for the Judiciary in 2023 is a tricky one. There have been
moments in Nigeria’s history when the Judiciary distinguished itself as
a bastion of our democracy and cherished rule of law principles.
Opinions are however, bound to be divided, as to whether the recent
outlook of that institution inspires similar hope at this time. What is
clear is that we might have just come to one of such critical junctures
in our history again, and the enormous role of the Judiciary in shaping
it, should not be lost on it.
The Judiciary should therefore be bold and issue a just and fair
decision, without fear or favor, affection, or ill will. The Honourable
Justices must issue their judicial pronouncement in the spirit of Fīat
jūstitia ruat cælum “Let justice be done though the heavens fall.”
Yours faithfully,
Uche Martins
President, Diaspora Action for Democracy in Africa (DADA)
Cc:
About Diaspora Action for Democracy in Africa (DADA) DIASPORA ACTION FOR DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA (DADA) is a Pan African Organization established as a vehicle to mobilize all African Diaspora across the world outside the African continent, to organize and deploy people of African descent, their competencies, resources, and social capital to redeem the African homeland from its state of underdevelopment. We facilitate, promote, and support the advancement of democracy that delivers good governance on the African continent, by leveraging the African Diaspora across the world, employing their creativity and resources to regenerate African civilization and modernization. Nigeria is the largest African country and the largest black nation. One out of four black persons is a Nigerian, and so Nigeria is central to DADA operations, visions, and missions because a stable and democratic Nigeria is central to the emancipation of the African continent and the entire black race.
- The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN)
- The President of the Court of Appeal
- The National Judicial Council
About Diaspora Action for Democracy in Africa (DADA) DIASPORA ACTION FOR DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA (DADA) is a Pan African Organization established as a vehicle to mobilize all African Diaspora across the world outside the African continent, to organize and deploy people of African descent, their competencies, resources, and social capital to redeem the African homeland from its state of underdevelopment. We facilitate, promote, and support the advancement of democracy that delivers good governance on the African continent, by leveraging the African Diaspora across the world, employing their creativity and resources to regenerate African civilization and modernization. Nigeria is the largest African country and the largest black nation. One out of four black persons is a Nigerian, and so Nigeria is central to DADA operations, visions, and missions because a stable and democratic Nigeria is central to the emancipation of the African continent and the entire black race.
