How Does Judiciary Gauge The Pulse of The Nation?, Presidency Reacts to Atiku’s Statement on Outcome of Osun Governorship Election Judgement

  • Presidency reminds Atiku how Buhari went to court thrice to contest elections and he lost.
  • Reminds Atiku of Zamfara and Rivers state elections which court excluded the party from contesting.

The Presidency has described as very ridiculous, and even comical, reaction of former Vice President and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, to the Supreme Court ruling affirming the election of Mr Gboyega Oyetola as governor of Osun State.

Atiku had in a statement urged the judiciary to take a pulse of the nation and reflect

“it. In their hands, God has placed a great responsibility. The duty to ensure that justice is done, irrespective of the pressure to do otherwise, by the powers that be.”

READ: Atiku Reacts to Supreme Court’s Judgment on Osun Governorship Election

Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity in a statement released in Abuja on Friday said  learned people know that the judiciary comes to conclusions drawing from matters of law placed before it, and not sentiments, or so-called “pulse of the nation.”

“A pertinent question is: how does the judiciary gauge the pulse of the nation? Is it even positioned to do such? Is the judiciary established for that purpose, or to dispense justice, even if the Heavens fall?

“Again, there is insinuation of inducement in the statement, when the PDP candidate said the judiciary should ensure justice is done, “irrespective of the pressure to do otherwise, by the powers that be.”

“We see this as an attempt to browbeat the judiciary, thus causing it to entertain sentiment in the ongoing petition on the presidential election before the tribunal. If anybody has the tendency or proclivity to put pressure on the judiciary, Nigerians know where the finger points, and it is definitely not at President Muhammadu Buhari. This was a man who had thrice taken his electoral challenges to the judiciary, up to the Supreme Court. And not once was he accused of trying to influence the process, or put pressure on the courts.”

READ: Osun Governorship: Supreme Court Dismisses Adeleke’s Appeal, Declares Oyetola Winner

He recalled that when the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost Zamfara and Rivers States, arising from judicial proclamations, there was no “pressure to do otherwise, by the powers that be.”

“But now that the victory of the party in Osun was upheld, there is insinuation of pressure from those who have never learnt to play straight.’

He pointed that President Buhari has always been committed to fair play, which was clearly evident in the last general elections.

“He remains committed to even-handedness and justice always.”

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