Bayelsa governorship appeal: APC top shots pressuring Supreme Court justices to rule against us – PDP

7 years ago

Bayelsa governorship appeal: APC top shots pressuring Supreme Court justices to rule against us – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused some bigwigs of the All Progressives Congress, APC, of pressurising Justices of the Supreme Court in a bid to favour the party in the Bayelsa State Governorship election matter.

The Supreme Court will today deliver judgment on the appeals of Chief Timipre Sylva and the APC against the judgments of the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, which affirmed Seriake d!ckson as the governor of Bayelsa State.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Dayo Adeyeye, the ruling opposition party urged the Justices of the Supreme Court to ignore all pressures and deliver judgment in line with the dictates of the Nigeria’s Constitution, electoral laws and good conscience.

According to Adeyeye, certain people and other senior members of APC “are again putting pressure on justices of the Supreme Court to pervert the course of justice by overturning the decisions of the Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal, and nullify the mandate freely given to Governor Seriake d!ckson by the people of Bayelsa State.”

The statement reads, “This judgement comes at a time when the Judiciary is facing an onslaught from the ruling party using the apparatus and instruments of state.

“This judgment will be given in the face of allegations, by Justices of the Supreme Court no less, that senior members of APC and ministers in this administration attempted to bribe judges to subvert the course of justice in similar suits relating to elections in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Ekiti and Rivers states

“We reiterate our belief that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man and the bastion upon which our entire democracy rests. We believe that there are men and women of integrity, with proven track records in the dispensation of justice who ensure that justice is not only done but is also seen to be done.

“We urge the justices of the Supreme Court to ignore this pressure and to give judgment in line with the dictates of our constitution, electoral laws and good conscience.

“In these trying times when the disregard for the rule of law prevails and there is a deliberate disregard for the constitutional rights and freedoms of the Nigerian people, we call on the Judiciary to stand firm against this tyranny.

“It is with this spirit that we reaffirm our position that we will accept the judgment of the Supreme Court in good faith and in the interest of the Nigerian and Bayelsan people.”

This accusation emerged just when the dust is beginning to blow over claims by two Justices of the Supreme Court arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS,Sylvester Ngwuta and John Inyang Okoro alleging that the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and his counterpart from the Science and Technology Ministry, Ogbonnaya Onu at separate intervals attempted to bribe them.