Tinubu insists non-interference in Edo election petitions tribunal* — _Source

Crusaderhotnews 

By Gidigba Group

Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu, has insisted he will not interfere in the ongoing Edo election petitions tribunal, holding at the National Judicial Institute, NJI, Abuja. 

Insider source revealed that efforts to get the the President to prevail on the judiciary to bend things has consistently proven abortive; the latest effort met a brick wall as Okpebholo's men tried to use the recent APC caucus meeting held at the State House, Abuja, for which Mr. President presided, to railroad the President did not work, as Mr. President is said to have focused squarely on national issues. 

"The idea was to use the APC caucus meeting to further draw the attention of Mr. President to the setbacks that has derailed APC/Okpebholo at the tribunal so far, that was not achieved however, as exclusive national matters took centrestage."

"The President seems determined to see a better, reformed, independent and strong judiciary, hence his pronounced unwillingness to interfere in elections petitions matters; in any case, what are we expecting the President to do, if election has been won, and the matter goes to court, courtesy demands that winners go to court and defend their victory."

"I don't think President Tinubu has in his agenda to "weigh-in" on sensitive judicial matters as Edo election petitions tribunal", the source added. 

Recall that the Justice Kpochi-led 3-member tribunal in the last hearing, gave INEC, APC/Okpebholo seven days to write their final written addresses, with PDP/Asue-Ogie five days to do theirs, with March 3rd scheduled for final adoption of the Party's addresses, and subsequently judgement. 

It is said that APC/Okpebholo have remained unsettled following their inability to defend their victory at the tribunal, INEC's unexpected withdrawal from the matter, and APC/Okpebholo's witnesses' admittance of electoral fraud under cross-examination, giving credence to massive electoral malpractice raised by PDP/Asue-Ogie.

As March 3rd fast-approaches, with PDP's explosive revelations of fraud in the Edo governorship election of September 21 backed by compelling evidences, and with President Tinubu's insistence on non-interference in the matter, and going by APC/Okpebholo's inability to defend their victory before the tribunal, observers have said that the world expects the judiciary to deploy its wisdom and considering documentary evidence before the tribunal, confessions of witnesses and other associated factors, will do the right thing, and set the tone for fair, credible, dispassionate, and justiceable outcome in subsequent situations.