The spokesperson for Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, Diran Onifade, stated that even after president-elect Bola Tinubu takes office on May 29, Obi may still be able to obtain justice in court.
In an interview with The Sun, Obi, who is now contesting Tinubu’s declaration as the victor of the February 25 presidential election, made this statement.
The Presidential Election Tribunal’s pre-trial proceedings came to a close on May 22; the actual trial was scheduled to start on May 30. Instead of the seven weeks they requested, petitioners now have three weeks from May 30 to June 23 to submit their case.
Onifade expressed faith in the tribunal and noted numerous instances of officials being called back after taking office.
“Ngige was governor of Anambra State for three years, when his election was found to be faulty, he was removed. Only of recent, Emeka Ihedioha in Imo was asked to vacate for Hope Uzodimma and on and on. So, it’s not a big deal. That’s not how system works. Even though some people think someone will use executive powers to curtail the court and all. There are separation of powers in our system.
When you go to court, you expect to get justice in court and I have been citing examples of people who got justice in the Nigerian court system. We can’t just write them off. As for we, we trust them (the court) because our constitution doesn’t give us an option.”
Onifade refuted claims made by the Labour Party side led by Apapa Lamidi that his chances at the tribunal were in jeopardy because he had not paid the Independent National Electoral Commision (INEC) the N1.5 million required to collect the relevant documents needed as evidence in court.
“They are suspended. They are out of the system so they don’t know what is going on in the system. All this crap they are talking about does not make sense. They don’t have the right information as to what is going on in the party. We are not owing INEC for anything. The court has asked INEC to give us documents. Our lawyers have complied. We have applied. Whatever is meant to be paid, has been paid but they don’t know because they are suspended. They are not part of the party at this point in time. In which party event have you seen them? They are only hopping from TV studio to TV studio. And claiming who they are not. Our party people that have now been elected, are they in touch with them? They are using sabotage to even deny these people of the mandate that elected them. This is what they are busy doing. They are outsiders. It is INEC that is owing us documents that court said they should give us. We are not owing them any money.”
