Court of Appeal President Talks High

Justice Adamu Bulkachuwa, the President of the court of Appeal, has issued a stern warning to Judaical officers assigned with the sacred responsibilities of presiding over  the 2019 pre-election and post election matters asking them to be unsentimental and that she will used her exalted office to embark on a close monitoring of their activities.

She disclosed that she will swiftly use the sledge hammer on any jury that compromises in the discharge of his sacred duties.

In furtherance of this the judges were advised to avoid   frivolous adjournments and deploying unwarranted technicalities that can cause delay in the administration of justice.

 This warning was disclosed by the Appeal Court President at the occasion of the induction of Justices of the court of Appeal, Chairmen and members of Election Petition Tribunals at Mohammed Lawal Uwais Mediation Centre, FCT High Court, Gudu district in Abuja

The induction is the official flag-off to prepare the judges for pre-election and post-election cases.

The Honorable Justice also asked the electoral officers to abide by the law and not to be clouded by emotions,fear while also avoiding being sentimental.

“By the end of this week, we will all be in our various states for the tribunals and the appeals that will follow suit by the aggrieved parties.

“I need not remind you that the assignment ahead of you is enormous and due diligence and professionalism is expected from each and every one of you.

“The judiciary is in the limelight and as Judicial officers we should discharge the responsibilities proposed on us both individually and collectively by dispensing Justice in accordance with the law without fear or favour, affection or ill-will within the dictates of our conscience and oath of office.“Like I have said before, each and every one of you will be monitored by my office and, I will not hesitate to descend on any judge found wanting in the discharge of his or her duties”.

It will be recalled that the runner up in the just concluded presidential poll Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) has rejected the result of the election and already vowed to reclaim his allged stolen mandate in court.

Read the full text of Alhaji Abubakar’s message below.

BEING TEXT OF A WORLD PRESS CONFERENCE BY ATIKU ABUBAKAR, CANDIDATE OF THE PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE FEBRUARY 23, 2019 ELECTIONS ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2019

Dear citizens of Nigeria,

Let me start by thanking you for choosing democracy as the settled system of government for our great nation.

Democracy is a government of the people by the people, only when the people’s choice prevails. That did not happen on Saturday, February 23, 2019.

On Election Day, we saw the implementation of grand theft of the people’s will. I am not one for hyperbole so I will just let the facts speak for themselves.

In Akwa Ibom for instance, the results showed a statistical impossibility of a 62% drop in voter numbers from the 2015 elections even where voter registration and PVC collection rates were much higher than in 2015.

This pattern was repeated in strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party, including in Delta, Rivers, Abia and Benue states.

As this was occurring, we saw another statistical impossibility wherein voter turnout and numbers increased astronomically in Borno State by an almost miraculous 82% in the midst of increased insecurity.

This pattern was also repeated in other strongholds of the All Progressive Congress.

One begins to ask if insecurity is conducive to higher voter turnouts and security is antithetical to high voter turnout.

It is further curious that the Peoples Democratic Party’s margin of victory in states outside the Southeast and South-south were extremely slim across board. That again is a statistical impossibility.

The fact is that when you calmly look at the numbers declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission as results of the February 23, 2019 elections, they do not add up.

Let me say that I am not speaking as a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. I am speaking as a Nigerian when I say that the electoral fraud perpetrated by the Buhari administration this past Saturday cannot produce a government of the people for the simple reason that it does not reflect the will of the Nigerian people.

It is for this reason that I, Atiku Abubakar, reject the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission declaring Muhammadu Buhari as duly returned by the majority of lawful votes.

I am conferring with not just my party, but also with the Nigerian people, on next steps, which will be revealed to the public shortly.

For my fellow Nigerians who feel angry, disillusioned, and let down by the process, I appeal to you to remain calm and steadfast. Rome was not built in a day. We have the real figures, we have the facts that were spoken so loudly on Saturday, February 23, 2019.

This is a long journey, but I am confident of victory. All hope is not lost. Stay strong, by the grace of God we shall triumph.

And to investors and friends of Nigeria now pulling out of Nigeria, I urge you to be patient and keep faith with the Nigerian people. Your quarrel is not with the Nigerian people. Your quarrel is with those who stole their mandate. Please do not punish the people by divesting from Nigeria.

Thank you all and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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