Tinubu: I respect the judiciary and democracy

On Monday, the Presidency was responding to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s doubts over the credibility of the judiciary following recent court judgements that removed some governors of opposition parties in some states.

In a statement, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, asserted that Tinubu remained committed to upholding judicial independence and Nigeria’s democratic values.

Onanuga added that the allegations stemmed from the PDP’s “poor performance” in recent appeal court rulings regarding the election of some of its governors.

“President Tinubu is a democrat to the core. We make bold to say that as president, he has not meddled with the judgement of the judiciary,” the statement said.

“The PDP, former Vice President, and his spokesman have become overly desperate to blame their troubles on President Tinubu and the judiciary.

“We had witnessed how, under his watch, the PDP governor in Osun beat the APC at the Supreme Court. Similarly, the PDP governor in Bauchi also won his case in the appeals court, defeating the APC.

“President Tinubu is also not planning to create a one-party state, as Atiku has repeatedly claimed and his party and spokesman have now echoed.”

The presidential aide dismissed Atiku’s accusation that Tinubu interfered with judicial processes.

He cited examples where PDP candidates prevailed over All Progressives Congress candidates in the Supreme and Appeal courts, highlighting Tinubu’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law.

Onanuga further accused Atiku and the PDP of trying to destabilise Nigeria’s political landscape.

He added, “Unlike Atiku Abubakar, President Tinubu’s record as a democrat par excellence and a strong advocate of the rule of law has been globally recognised.

“His record of service as governor, which witnessed huge strides in various aspects of the state, was responsible for the dominance of his political structure in Lagos and not for any undemocratic conduct, as Atiku Abubakar wants the public to believe.

“While Atiku and the PDP are now crying wolf over the Appeal Court rulings on governorship polls in Plateau, Zamfara, and Nasarawa States, we hasten to ask the former Vice President where he was in 2019 when the court ruled against the All Progressives Congress in Zamfara State. The court then awarded all the positions won by the APC to the PDP.

“We once again implore Atiku and the PDP to stop their campaign of calumny and blackmail against the judiciary and the honourable judges and justices.

“Judgements are based on law and evidence. In election petition cases, they are based on the Electoral Act and the Constitution, not on sentiments and emotions.