Chief Okeke (seated middle) addressing journalists in Abuja
Former Chairman Police Service Commission (PSC) Chief Simon Okeke (Ochendo), has advised President Muhammadu Buhari, to put on hold the inauguration of President-elect Bola Tinubu, slated for May 29, pending the determination by the Supreme Court of the suits challenging the declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Tinubu as winner of the February 25 presidential election.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Saturday, Chief Okeke said that since some aggrieved political parties are challenging INEC’s declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Mr. Tinubu as president-elect before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the electoral process remained uncompleted until the apex court gives its verdict on the authentic winner of the election.
He said: “Since the 1999 Constitution of the Federation (as amended), allows anyone, aggrieved after the announcement by INEC of the general elections to go on appeal from the Tribunal to the Supreme Court to determine the final winner of the election, it stands to reason that no one should be sworn-in as the winner before the apex court pronounces who in its opinion is the true winner of that election. Common sense requires that until the apex court pronounces a winner, the election is only midway and not over yet.”
SummitNews recalls that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP) and some other political parties are challenging the declaration of Mr. Tinubu as winner of the election before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal citing substantial non-compliance with the relevant provisions of the constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act.
“We, therefore, urge Mr. President to swear-in only the person adjudged by the apex court as the winner of the election. To swear-in anyone when the case is still pending in the court is to prejudge the view of the apex court or to indirectly urge the court to confirm whoever is so prematurely sworn-in.”
Chief Okeke pleaded that the right thing should be done in the interest of peace, justice and fairness.
