Election Petitions: NLC Threatens To Create ‘Hall Of Shame’ For Judges

As the 2023 election Tribunal gets set to commence hearing into petitions, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has called on members of the judiciary to prove that the court remains the last hope of a common man with their judgements or else the Congress would create a ‘hall of shame’ for judges who give questionable judgements.

Speaking at a joint briefing with members of the civil society group under Labour and Civil Society, on Sunday in Abuja, the National Chairman of the NLC, Comrade Joseph Ajaero, said;

“The judiciary has so many questions to answer, if they fail to answer those questions within a short time, we would create a hall of shame for those judges that come up with judgement; for those judges that create such problems, that will happen soon. There is a need for the NBA, for all arms in the judiciary, to the bar benches, and all to speak out on what is happening in the judiciary and whether the judiciary is still the last hope of the common man.

“Now the destiny of the country is in our hands. It is either they fulfil it or they are betrayed once again, when they tell you to go to the court, they’re telling you that that is the end of the matter. Somebody will steal yam and say go to the court. On what basis are those statements being used? That’s the level of ridicule that the judiciary has brought and as Nigerians, we all need to come out to rescue the judiciary, or else there’ll be no need to continue going to court.”

On the other hand, spokesperson of the Civil Society Organisations, Nkoyo Toto, accused INEC of dashing the hope of Nigerians and working against democracy.

In his words;

“This 2023 general election became an anti-climax, dashing the hopes of Nigerians for credible elections and denying citizens the emergence of qualitative political leadership across Nigeria.

“Clearly, INEC in cahoots with some members of our political class has driven a death nail into the democratic experience of most Nigerians, thus, leaving the electorate despondent to resort to self-help in their effort to salvage whatever is left of their vibrant political engagement with the 2023 elections.

“Unfortunately, the majority of Nigerians, especially the youths, who fought with patriotism to reset their country through the ballot box, are now wondering if elections have not become the tool for legitimising the corrupt takeover of Nigeria”.