UDUAGHAN’S VICTORY, SHAME ON JUDICIARY-INSTALLED GOVERNOR’S OTHERS - ONI
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Olusegun Oni has described the victory recorded by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Delta State rerun governorship election as a shame on those who have been using the judiciary to secure electoral victories in the country, adding that; “In a saner clime, no one would emerge governor on the basis of nullification of results in 10 out of 20 Local Government Councils in a State and be proud to be referred to as a governor.”
Oni, who congratulated Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for his re-election warned on the consequences of using the judiciary to award electoral victories and circumventing the will of the people through controversial judgments.
According to the statement issued by his Chief Media Aide, Mr. Wale Ojo-Lanre, the former governor said; “the victory has again shown that the PDP can always win elections through the ballot boxes anytime, any day and that the mafia that are trying to buy the soul of Nigeria with their ill-gotten wealth will never succeed.
“It is a vindication that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Uduaghan as the winner of the April 14,
2007 governorship election in line with the mandate of the people of Delta State.
“I congratulate my brother, my friend, loyal party man, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for this well deserved victory. I also salute the courage of the teeming supporters of our great party, PDP in Delta State and the entire people of the State for this triumph over forces of darkness who believe that with their ill-gotten wealth, they can buy over all facets of our national life,” Oni said.
While calling for a total overhaul of the judiciary, especially from the lower Court to the Appeal Court levels, Chief Oni said; “Conflicting judicial pronouncements being made by the Appellate Court on Election cases is worrisome and this should bother all lovers of rule of law in Nigeria in particular and the whole world in general.
“For instance, the elementary topic of law of evidence in law classes across the globe is that the onus of proof is on the one who asserts.
However, this old age theory seems in recent time to be undergoing a redefinition in Nigerian courts via the Justice Isa Ayo Salami-led Court of Appeal and the earlier all lovers of rule of law rise up in defence of justice, the better for democracy in Nigeria.
“Questions need to be asked as to the reason only eight out of the 52 justices of the Appeal Court have participated in all election appeal cases in the last two years. Also, well-meaning Nigerians should ask Justice Salami why three of the justices that sat on the case of Ekiti State also found their ways into the Osun State case.”