Onnoghen: PDP Accuses Presidency Of Plotting To Annex The Judiciary

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday accused the
Buhari Presidency of plotting to destabilize and annex the
Judiciary ahead of the 2019 general elections.

In a statement issued in Abuja by Kola Ologbondiyan, Director,
Media & Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, it
alerted of allegations that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and
cabal at the Buhari Presidency are hounding Chief Justice of
Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen and seeking his removal so as
to cause a constitutional crisis, instill fear in judicial officers
and pave way for the foisting of a pliable CJN that will do their
bidding on electoral matters.

The opposition said this is particularly so following
allegations that the APC is seeking new CJN that will aid its
rigging schemes as well as execute the plot to use the court to
detain and put opposition members and outspoken members of Civil
Society Organizations out of circulation during the general
elections.

The statement added: “This development is a clear recipe for
anarchy and a huge crisis that is capable of fracturing our justice
system and derail our democracy as it portends a prelude to a total
clamp down on institutions of democracy and rule of law in our
country.”

The PDP, therefore, urged all Nigerians, the United Nations and
all international bodies to unite in the defence of the nation’s
democracy, especially at this very critical time in our political
development.

It further stated: “Moreover, if President Buhari is committed
to cleaning up the system as he claims, we challenge him to allow
the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, whose tenure has
expired and who had also been rejected by Nigerians due to his
manifest partisanship, to go.

“President Buhari should also ask Amina Zakari to recuse herself
from INEC following her rejection by Nigerians over issues of
impropriety in her appointment as Chairperson of the Presidential
election collation committee.

“Furthermore, we challenge Mr President to also commence plans
for the immediate prosecution of members of his campaign
organization, including his co-Chairman, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and
the factional National Chairman of his APC, Adams Oshiomhole over
allegations of corruption against them.”

The PDP counselled the APC to note that it has been “rejected”
by Nigerians and as such should end all its actions and schemes
that overheat the polity and place our nation on the precipice.