Diran Onifade, the spokesperson of the Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, has said he believes he could still get justice in court even after president-elect, Bola Tinubu, is sworn in on May 29.
Obi who is currently challenging the emergence of Tinubu as winner of the February 25 presidential election, said this in an interview with The Sun.
Pre-trials at the Presidential Election Tribunal ended on Tuesday May 22, while trial proper have been slated to begin on Tuesday, May 30. Petitioners have three weeks to present their case as opposed to seven weeks they asked for beginning from May 30 to June 23.
Onifade expressed confidence in the tribunal and cited multiple incidences where people were recalled after being sworn into office.
“Ngige was governor of Anambra State for three years, when his election was found to be faulty, he was removed. Only of recent, Emeka Ihedioha in Imo was asked to vacate for Hope Uzodimma and on and on. So, it’s not a big deal. That’s not how system works. Even though some people think someone will use executive powers to curtail the court and all. There are separation of powers in our system.
When you go to court, you expect to get justice in court and I have been citing examples of people who got justice in the Nigerian court system. We can’t just write them off. As for we, we trust them (the court) because our constitution doesn’t give us an option.”
Onifade also debunked statements by the Apapa Lamidi-led faction of Labour Party, that his chances were threatened at the tribunal due to failure to provide N1.5 million fee to obtain necessary documents needed as evidence in court from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“They are suspended. They are out of the system so they don’t know what is going on in the system. All this crap they are talking about does not make sense. They don’t have the right information as to what is going on in the party. We are not owing INEC for anything. The court has asked INEC to give us documents. Our lawyers have complied. We have applied. Whatever is meant to be paid, has been paid but they don’t know because they are suspended. They are not part of the party at this point in time. In which party event have you seen them? They are only hopping from TV studio to TV studio. And claiming who they are not. Our party people that have now been elected, are they in touch with them? They are using sabotage to even deny these people of the mandate that elected them. This is what they are busy doing. They are outsiders. It is INEC that is owing us documents that court said they should give us. We are not owing them any money.”
