Kogi Guber: CSOs, Observers, Others Fault SDP’s Attack On Judiciary

A cross section of civil society organisations (CSOs), accredited observers in the November 11, 2023 Kogi governorship election and indigenes of the state have decried what they describe as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) relentless criticisms of the Judiciary over its handling of the legal disputes arising from the poll.

They also accused the opposition party of blackmail and “propaganda taken too far.”

The CSOs said the actions of the SDP and its candidate, Muritala Ajaka, were aimed at putting undue pressure on the judiciary.

According to them, the attacks on the judiciary after every judgement, showed ignorance on the part of both the SDP and its candidate, “who are not being properly guided by their lawyers for obvious reasons”.

The groups specifically noted that the continuous attacks on critical stakeholders, especially the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary without evidence should be seriously condemned by well meaning Nigerians as an attack on Nigeria’s democracy and the rule of law, stressing that such attacks should not got without security agencies arresting and investigating people behind it.

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At a joint press conference yesterday in Abuja, the Coalition of CSOs, INEC-accredited observers in the November 11 polls, and the Kogi Indigenous People Initiative said it was condemnable that despite an ongoing court process after the election, the SDP had resorted to self-help by deriding and ridiculing the judiciary in the public space.

They, however, reminded the SDP and its candidate, Ajaka, that court cases are won with facts and evidence, not through propaganda, intimidation and name dropping.

Speaking on behalf of the CSOs, the national coordinator of the Coalition of Civil Society of Nigeria, Ohalete Wisdom Kelechi, said the INEC and the judiciary were two critical institutions of government that must be protected from the prejudice of political interests.

He said, “We are concerned that some political interests have continued to stoke embers of hate, further heightening the tension in the land.

“It must be clearly stated that those who have continued to abuse, harass, lampoon, insult and event attempt to induce officers of the judiciary do not mean well for our country.

“When the electoral body and the judiciary come under fierce attacks, coordinated propaganda and mindless blackmail, the pillar of democracy hangs in the balance and good governance will take a back seat.”

Also speaking on behalf of some of the observers accredited by INEC for the election, Mr. Emmanuel Oluwasegun, commended INEC for conducting what many described as the freest and fairest election since the creation of Kogi State.