A Political support group in the 2023 presidential elections, Bola Campaign Organization (BCO), has cautioned Nigerians and political class against making disparaging comments about judges of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT).
BCO gave this caution in a statement signed by its National Patron, Alhaji Abdulwahab Korede Quardi (FCIB) and National Coordinator, QS Mohammed Makinta (FNIQS) and made available to journalists on Tuesday.
BCO’s appeal is coming following an alleged statement credited to Nigeria’s Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola on the supposed handwritten “judgement” of the presidential election tribunal.
The group maintained that the judiciary should be allowed to perform its constitutional functions without baseless and defamatory statement capable of undermining its roles.
BCO equally cautioned judicial officers saddled with the presidential election tribunal judgement to strive to be impartial and courageous in upholding the rules of law and delivery of justice as the presidential elections petition tribunal (PEPT), is expected to deliver its judgment sometime in September.
BCO said, “We have noted with disappointment the growing attacks and cheap blackmail by Nigerians and political class to intimate the Presidential Elections Petition Tribunal Judges with few weeks to its final judgement on the outcome of the 2023 Presidential Elections”.
“We find this resort to blackmail and intimidation very condemnable, as the naysayers behind the purported statement credited to Nigeria’s Former Minister, Babatunde Fashola to have written the tribunal judgement and handed it over to the judges are playing to the gallery “.
“To say the least, any person or group using this tactics is reprehensible and unacceptable as it is a threat to the peace and progress of the country “.
“We therefore advise Nigerians and the political class to tread softly and shun any action that could lead to the breach of public peace and the outcome of the tribunal”.
“We also urge political gladiators and their supporters to refrain from statements that could set Nigerians against one another, as blackmail and intimidation to divide the judiciary will not work”, the group maintained.
