EDO State election petitions tribunal seating in the nation’s capital territory received INEC documents in defense of the results it declared.
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INEC presented the documents in defense of the massive electoral fraud and explosive malpractice that ridiculed the outcome of the election.
Whereas the PDP wrapped-up its case Monday, having successfully fielded a number of PWs, tendering evidences in IREV, BVAS, form EC8A, all in CTCs as provided by INEC, it is expected that the tribunal will in its wisdom continue to exercise due diligence in the discharge of its constitutional and sacred duties.
For Mike Ozekhome SAN, a constitutional lawyer and human rights activist, “the judiciary must remain acutely aware of its influence on preserving the integrity of democracy over election matters and must remain strong, virile and independent”.
The Justice Wilfred Kpochi-led 3-member tribunal’s commitment to do what is right and the resultant outcome will no doubt set a new vista in judiciary’s independence to right electoral misdid; while we must continue to shame individuals and groups who perpetrate electoral malpractice, as was observed in Edo, the Judiciary, being the last hope of the ordinary man and final arbiter of constitutional democracy, holds it a sacrosanct duty to uphold the ideas of fairness, transparency, credibility, dispassion, equity, justice and truth, and that the ongoing Abuja tribunal possess the capacity to crystallize, strengthen ongoing conversation on public institutions’ and electoral reforms, sparks a ray of hope that, yes, the wheel of justice grinds slowly, though, but grinds exceedingly fine.
And while we commend the tribunal for its patience in listening to petitions paraded by PDP/Asue-Ogie since inception, and admitting same in evidence, we equally admire the courage it has exercised to summon INEC to defend itself; moreover, we encourage APC/Okpebholo not to be overwhelmed by the growing tension in their camp, as the appointed time to defend their disputed victory has come.
