Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), expressed concerns over what he views as unprecedented blackmail and intimidation of the judiciary in relation to the presidential election petitions.
He made these remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” program on Monday.
Falana emphasized that such tactics were unnecessary because there is still an avenue for appeal at the Supreme Court.
According to Falana, Nigeria has a history of election petitions dating back to the colonial era, but none has witnessed the level of blackmail and intimidation currently observed.
Falana calls for impartiality in election tribunals
He pointed out that the impression that everything hinges on the judgment of the Court of Appeal and the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal is misleading.
Parties that lose at this stage still have the opportunity to appeal to the Supreme Court, rendering the ongoing blackmail unnecessary.
Falana attributed the blackmail and intimidation to new voters who believe that their preferred candidate must emerge as the winner, which is not the primary purpose of election tribunals.
He stressed that it is the duty of the justices to evaluate the evidence presented by the parties, apply the law, and make a decision without being swayed by intimidation or blackmail.
He urged the judges to remain resolute, examine the evidence, apply the law, and deliver a just decision.
Falana acknowledged that some parties would win while others would lose, but those who are dissatisfied with the outcome can approach the Supreme Court to challenge the Court of Appeal’s judgment.
The Court of Appeal confirmed that it would deliver its judgment on the presidential election petitions on Wednesday, with proceedings open to live broadcast by interested television stations.
The Labour Party (LP), the Fayose’s caution to PDP leaders: Dismissing Wike could backfirePeoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), along with their presidential candidates, had filed petitions seeking to nullify the election of President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 presidential election.