The Face Of Waziri-Nigeria (FOWN), a prominent group in Nigeria, has raised alarms over a suspected plot to manipulate the final verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT). FOWN alleges that legitimacy embattled President Bola Tinubu, seemingly unsettled by the possibility of an unfavorable judgment, has engaged six political consultants, including ex-governors.
FOWN’s Director General, Mr. Bukky Adeniyi, released a statement yesterday, stating these consultants have been assigned to sway the judges’ final decision. Furthermore, the group claims that these consultants are planning to liaise with influential traditional and religious figures to pacify potential public unrest, should the judges maintain Tinubu’s presidential status.
In the meantime, the Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM), a civil society organization, has warned Tinubu’s legal team against bullying the judiciary. This warning follows Tinubu’s final written statement to the tribunal, in which he, through his counsel Wole Olanipekun, argued that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) should be regarded as the 37th state for electoral concerns.
The duo of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) respectively, are contesting Tinubu’s election victory.
COPDEM spokesperson, Danjuma Musa, emphasized that any intimidation towards the judiciary undermines the nation’s democracy. He stressed that COPDEM stands for the absolute independence and integrity of the judiciary, which is crucial for the flourishing of democracy and the unity of Nigeria.
SOURCE: Guardian
IMAGE: The Sun
