Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, the majority leader in the Senate, has cautioned opposing parties and their nominees against using misinformation, erroneous information, and disinformation to force the judiciary into partisan politics.
In response to the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding President Bola Tinubu’s election, Bamidele revealed this on Thursday, according to a statement released by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs in Abuja.
In the ninth National Assembly, Bamidele chaired the Senate Committee on court, Human Rights, and Legal Matters. He criticised the opposition for forcing the court into partisan politics against the interests of Nigerians as a whole.
Bamidele denounced “the undue blackmailing of the judiciary even before the petitions of the opposition parties and their candidates were decided” as he was rejoicing in the president’s win.
One of the democratic institutions that continues to stand up for and support the oppressed, according to him, is the court.
Therefore, rather than following the law, it is unethical and immoral for any political figure or party to subject the judiciary to a media trial.
“In this federation’s recent history, petitioners who have benefited greatly from the independence and impartiality of the judiciary have never denigrated the judiciary.”
According to Bamidele, during their individual international press conferences, the petitioners “claimed to have won the 2023 presidential elections.” However, when they were unable to provide evidence to support their claims, they self-servingly turned to blackmailing established institutions, particularly the court.
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Using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, which the Independent National Electoral Commission employed to conduct the elections, he noted that rulings from the appellate and supreme courts “have clearly shown that the last elections are the most credible since the beginning of the Fourth Republic.”
Therefore, he applauded the supreme court for upholding the truth and the truth alone in the face of the petitioners’ vicious, pointless, and persistent intimidation of judicial officers, claiming that they have violated the public interest in order to further their own selfish political agenda.
Bamidele cautioned all political players, interests, and parties “to henceforth stop playing politics with the rule of law and the integrity of the judiciary,” stating that the judiciary had closed all presidential election petitions in favour of President Tinubu.
In addition, Bamidele issued a warning “about the perverse culture of forcing the judiciary into politicised issues.”
Regarding Nigeria, the court continues to be an impartial arbiter entirely dedicated to the administration of justice without taking into account any factors related to race, economic status, political affiliation, or religion.
“therefore, it is unjust and inappropriate to portray the court as the world’s sole beacon of hope for the oppressed. This harms not just the judiciary but also presents a negative image of all Nigerians, both at home and abroad, to the world community.
“This is absolutely inappropriate! And it needs to end.
