▪️Chijioke Ogbodo
In response to President Bola Tinubu’s warning of anarchy if the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) rules against him and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate and first petitioner in the ongoing case, has provided a principled response. Tinubu, who represented the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the election, expressed concerns that interpreting the Electoral Act section 134 unfavorably for him could lead to a breakdown of law and order. It is important to note that Tinubu and Shettima are the 2nd and 3rd respondents, respectively, in this case.
During their final address to the court, Tinubu’s legal team, led by Wole Olanipekun, made it clear that deviating from their interpretation would have grave consequences. They warned that any other interpretation could result in absurdity, chaos, anarchy, and the distortion of the legislature’s original intentions.
In light of these statements, Peter Obi responded to Tinubu’s concerns with a measured approach, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rule of law. Obi’s principled response aims to address the potential consequences while remaining committed to the legal process and the pursuit of justice.
However, a difference of opinion emerged as Peter Obi’s legal team, led by Dr. Livy Uzoukwu and Onyechi Ikpeazu, openly disagreed with this viewpoint. They countered that what truly leads to anarchy is the disregard or undermining of the rule of law. In such circumstances, anarchy prevails.
According to Obi, a particular statement in the address by the 2nd and 3rd respondents raised concerns among the petitioners and millions of Nigerians. Obi expressed his unease with the following claim made by the respondents: “Our submission is that the Petitioners are inviting anarchy by their ventilation of this issue of non-transmission of results electronically, by INEC.”
This statement by the respondents prompted Obi to highlight the potential consequences and the need for thoughtful consideration. He called attention to the importance of maintaining discretion and refraining from making extreme claims that could incite unrest or undermine the integrity of the electoral process.
Peter Obi’s legal team strongly criticized Tinubu’s outburst, describing it as a “cheap, misguided, and destructive blackmail” aimed at undermining the judiciary and constitutionalism in the country. They further asserted that this tactic seeks to erode democracy and the principles it stands for.
The legal team also pointed out the careless and absurd nature of the statements made by the 2nd and 3rd respondents. They noted that these statements were designed to raise concerns about insecurity if the petitioners were to follow the respondents’ example. However, the legal team emphasized that the petitioners maintain discipline, a peaceful disposition, and a strong belief in the rule of law, ensuring that they will never resort to such actions.
In their response, Obi’s legal team underscored the importance of maintaining the integrity of the legal process and upholding democratic values. They criticized the respondents for their inflammatory remarks and affirmed their commitment to peaceful resolution and adherence to the rule of law.
Highlighting the futility and excessiveness of the respondents’ threat, Peter Obi’s legal team questioned why it would be deemed offensive for the petitioners to raise a ground provided for in section 134(1)(b) of the Electoral Act 2022, which allows for the challenge of an election. The team expressed their confusion over this matter, emphasizing that the petitioners were well within their rights to raise such concerns.
The legal experts attributed the unnecessary escalation and emotional outburst from the respondents to a state of desperation that has been taken to an extreme level, thereby posing a potentially dangerous situation. The team warned the respondents that when the rule of law is undermined or disregarded, anarchy prevails, and this outcome should be earnestly considered.
In raising these points, Obi’s legal team aims to challenge the respondents’ approach and remind them of the importance of upholding the rule of law and the potential consequences of ignoring it. The team seeks to promote a respectful and lawful approach to the ongoing legal proceedings, emphasizing the need for a fair and just resolution. GMTNews