Don’t be influenced by external pressure, Nasarawa women urge S’Court
Ahead of Friday’s judgment in the Nasarawa State governorship appeal, some women from the state have appealed to the apex court to remain independent of external pressure and influence while delivering its judgment.
The Nasarawa, Gombe, Delta, Ogun, Gombe, and Kebbi appeals among others are slated for judgment on Friday.
Nasarawa governorship appeal is one of the anticipated matters at the apex court.
The tribunal had sacked the governor, Abdullahi Sule, and declared David Ombugadu, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party as the winner of the March 18, 2023 election.
But the appeal court reinstated Sule and held that the tribunal wrongly relied on the evidence of eight of the PDP witnesses, whose statements on oath were not front-loaded alongside the petition.
The group of women, representing various organisations and civil society groups, during a protest held at the Unity Fountain in Abuja on Thursday carried placards with inscriptions such as “Justice Uninfluenced is Justice Served” and “Supreme Court of Justice our hope of survival. Save us!”.
Speaking on behalf of the women, one of the coordinators, Lydia Auta, urged the judiciary never to be blackmailed by the use of religion, stressing the need for fairness and justice.
She said, “We stand here before you with heavy hearts, urging and entreating every individual who values the principles of justice and fairness to lend their voices in safeguarding the sanctity of the judicial process.
“It is imperative that the upcoming Supreme Court verdict be devoid of any external pressure or undue influence. The decision rendered by the highest court in the land should reflect an impartial and unbiased examination of the facts and evidence presented before it
“We reiterate that our protest has always been peaceful, borne out of our unyielding belief in the power of peaceful, civic engagement as a means to address societal grievances. We have abided by the laws of our land and exercised our constitutional rights in a manner required of responsible citizens.
“We humbly call upon all our fellow citizens to maintain a peaceful and respectful demeanor as we await the unfolding of events in the legal arena.
“Additionally, we urge the authorities to ensure transparency and openness in the handling of the case and the subsequent release of the verdict reflecting the popular vote. The people of Nasarawa state and the entire nation deserve to witness a legal process that is conducted with absolute integrity and transparency, free from any hint of impropriety or bias.
“It is time for the Supreme Court to show that it is truly the last hope of the common man. We urge the judges to resist any form of external pressure and to make their decision based on the merits of our case.”
