ABEOKUTA: The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed its full confidence in the judicial system.
A statement issued in Abeokuta on Wednesday by the Publicity Secretary, Austin Oniyokor, quoted the State Chairman Dr. (Hon.) Sikirulai Ogundele, as saying the “outlandish claims against the judiciary that were attributed to a member of a group within the Party is without the knowledge, blessings and approval of the Party hierarchy.”
The statement reads, ” The attention of the Dr. (Hon.) Sikirulai Ogundele-led Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a most distasteful and ill-advised statement credited to the head of a group within the Ogun State PDP against the Ogun State judiciary.
“We hereby dissociate the PDP from the unfounded allegations and declare that the said statement does not represent the views and opinions of the Ogun State PDP. As a law-abiding party that has submitted the issues within its fold to the judiciary for adjudication, especially as they relate to certain provisions of our Party’s Constitution and Guidelines for Congresses, we respect the sanctity and integrity of all institutions of government, particularly the judiciary as an unbiased arbiter and the last hope of the common man.
“The statement credited to the individual does not reflect our position as a party. We hereby distance the authentic and well-meaning leaders and members of the Ogun State PDP from the reckless and irresponsible outbursts of the said individual and his sponsors.”
The Party expressed its confidence in the judiciary and urged it to carry on its duties without fear or favour.
“The Dr. Sikirulai Ogundele-led Ogun PDP hereby reaffirms its absolute confidence in the judiciary, as an essential arm of our government that has tried to stabilise our democracy in spite of the daunting challenges it is confronted with on a daily basis.
“It is surprising that this same set of individuals celebrated the judiciary when they won similar cases at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court in the build up to the 2023 general elections. The questions they should be asked are: why is it that their sudden misplaced fact-finding capabilities did not reveal which parties the justices of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court belonged to? Or is it a case of crying wolf and blackmailing people when they feel they cannot manipulate the system?
“We hereby wish to send a very strong warning to the head of the group to desist from undermining the integrity of the judiciary under any guise.”
The Party urged litigants who have submitted to the authority of the courts to exhaust their rights instead of resorting to cheap blackmail and unfounded allegations.
The statement reads further, “Anyone familiar with our adversarial system knows that this is just the court of first instance, as all parties reserve the right to appeal the outcome. It is most ludicrous if their resort to crying wolf where there is none is meant to cover up for the weakness of their defence.
“On a final note, we wish to caution the group head and his boss to desist from bringing our Party into disrepute by their conduct and utterances. They cannot undermine our Party’s Constitution and guidelines and expect us to fold our hands as custodians of the Party in the state. All we seek to do is to uphold the sanctity of our Party’s Constitution and Guidelines.
“We appeal to the judiciary not to be deterred. It has a constitutionally guaranteed duty to ensure that justice is done to all manner of persons without fear or favour. It cannot shy away from this onerous task irrespective of whose ox is gored. We urge the judiciary to do justice regardless of the orchestrated political shenanigans and schisms. We have full confidence in the judicial process and in the institution of the judiciary.”
