The Labour Party (LP) has announced its decision to move on following the Supreme Court judgment that affirmed the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25 election.
Julius Abure, the LP National Chairman, made the remark while accusing the Supreme Court of shredding the fabric of justice and good conscience in its verdicts. The Justice John Okoro-led five-man panel of justices had thrown out LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi’s appeal challenging Tinubu’s victory in the last presidential election.
Obi had called for the disqualification of Vice President Kashim Shettima due to double nomination. He claimed that Shettima was not qualified to serve as Tinubu’s running mate during the last presidential election.
But, Justice Okoro of the Supreme Court said it cannot allow the matter of double nomination to be relitigated. The justice recalled that the apex court issued a judgement on the matter when it was before a lower court.
“This matter ought not to have come here. When the matter was pending at the trial court, this court delivered judgement on it. This appeal lacks merit and is hereby dismissed,” the court ruled. In a similar vein, the apex court dismissed the appeal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, challenging Tinubu’s victory. Faulting the Supreme Court judgment, Abure described the verdict as disappointing while expressing hope for the future.
A statement by Abure reads partly: “The leadership of Labour Party watched as the sacred fabric of justice and good conscience was shredded today at the Supreme Court as it delivered its verdict in the case between our party, the presidential candidate and the APC presidential candidate.
“We are indeed very shocked and surprised that even the apex Court will toe the line of an earlier judgement in spite of all the flaws associated with the judgement delivered by the Presidential Election Appeal Tribunal.
“Having conclusively exercised our fundamental rights as gifted to us by the laws of the land, we have no other choice but to move on. We may be disappointed and dismayed by the outcome of the exercise, but we have chosen to trudge on and to remain optimistic of what the future holds for the nation.
“We weep for our institutions that cannot rise to the occasion and courageously defend democracy and the voices of our people.”
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