A prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Olabode George, has strongly criticized the actions of judges overturning the election outcomes in Nigeria.
His comments come in response to the recent controversy surrounding the ruling of the Appeal Court in Kano State.
It can be recalled that the appellate court nullified the election victory of Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State and instead declared Gawuna as the winner of the governorship election in the state.
However, confusion ensued when the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgment revealed that the Appeal Court had affirmed Yusuf as the rightful governor of Kano.
Nevertheless, the Appeal Court attributed this inconsistency to a clerical error.
Expressing his concerns, George highlighted the declining trust of Nigerians in the judiciary.
During a press conference in Lagos on Monday, the PDP stalwart stated, “This situation is alarming because if the citizens lose faith in the judiciary, it could pave the way for anarchy.”
“Clearly, the unethical alliances between certain politicians and judges pose a significant threat to our democracy. Millions of citizens turn out on election day, patiently wait in line, cast their votes for their preferred candidates, and then results are announced. Everyone celebrates, only for a handful of judges to invalidate the people’s choice,” George added.
“In cases involving politics, the judiciary’s role should be limited to arbitration, and in the event of discrepancies, a rerun should be ordered without declaring victory for any party,” he continued.
“It is unjust to strip the electorate of their right to select their leaders, and for the judiciary to unilaterally determine the winners. This is detrimental to Nigeria and our electoral system. A compromised judiciary is a grave risk,” he concluded.
