By Tony Ezimakor, Abuja
As Imolites await the judgment of the 2023 Imo State governorship election tribunal some South East based Civil Society Organizations ( CSOs) have called for eternal vigilance of stakeholders, and urged the judiciary the salvage its battered image
In a joint statement released in Owerri ,the Imo State Capital and made available to journalists, the CSOs urged the tribunal members to remain steadfast and loyal to the constitution and Electoral Act, stressing that their actions or inactions would again put the nation’s judiciary under global scrutiny and needless opprobrium.
“For the 2023 Imo State gubernatorial elections, all eyes are once again on the Judiciary. What judgment will they deliver? Will it be a judgment that will reflect the wishes of the people or the wishes of the politicians? Will it be a judgment that will reinstate electoral law, election guideline and the constitution as supreme in elections or the affirmation of only the interpretations of tribunal judges? ” queried the CSOs who insisted that the judiciary should use the tribunal judgement to salvage its image from further damage.
The CSOs who decried the excruciating economic hardship faced by Nigerians under the President Bola Tinubu’s administration are of the firm belief that the outcome of the Imo State election tribunal judgment would either provide succour or still worsen the agony of Imolites and Southeast in general.
The CSOs cautioned against the use of technicalities to undermine the glaring injustice served on Ndi Imo by compromised election officials during the 2023 governorship poll.
“All over the world, election cases are easier to determine because the election laws are very clear, but in Nigeria, even when infractions are very glaring, some tribunals tend to rely on technicalities and look the other way. In fact, commentators have concluded that it is judiciary that now votes in representatives in place of the citizens who own the sole right of determining who represents them.
” Nigeria and Nigerians are bleeding to the point of death, the only succour they need now is justice whose colors lie in the determination of who actually won the election and whether it was free, fair and credible. Nothing should be added or removed.”
While lamenting what the graveyard silence over the activities of the tribunal since inception of hearing, the CSOs insists on the need to hold the tribunal judges accountable as they prepare their judgement.
” Time has come to hold judges accountable for every judgment they pronounce. This is because in 2020, a Justice of the Supreme court warned the apex court that any judgment they delivered, which is considered a miscarriage of justice, will hunt electoral jurisprudence for a long time. Instead of hunting only electoral jurisprudence, it has also been hunting Imo citizens since over four years”.
Led by the South East Social Accountability Network and Democracy and Development Coalition, the CSOs warned that electoral malfeasance and compromised judgement can fuel social unrest and add to the misery faced by citizens.. The group also cautioned that the a betrayal of public confidence, erosion of the rule of law,etc can result in anarchy.
” Injustice erodes public trust in the legal system. When people perceive that election courts are not delivering fair outcomes, they may lose remaining confidence in the judiciary’s ability to uphold the rule of law and protect their rights thus resorting to anarchy and self-help during elections.
” The rule of law is based on the principle that laws are applied equally and impartially to all individuals. When courts fail to deliver just outcomes, it undermines this principle, leading to a weakening of the rule of law and potentially paving the way for deepening of arbitrary or discriminatory practices.
” Injustice can fuel social unrest and discontent, particularly among marginalized or disenfranchised groups who feel that they are not receiving equal treatment under the law. This can manifest in protests, demonstrations, or other forms of civil disobedience.
” When court decisions are perceived as unjust, it can undermine the legitimacy of judicial institutions and the broader legal framework. This, in turn, can weaken the authority of the judiciary and other institutions responsible for administering justice.
” Injustice may lead to an increase in litigation as aggrieved parties seek to challenge unfair rulings or seek redress through the legal system. This can result in a backlog of cases and further strain on judicial resources.
“A lack of justice can deter investment and economic growth by creating uncertainty and instability which this moment in time does not require. Businesses may be reluctant to operate in environments where the legal system is perceived as arbitrary or corrupt.
“Reinforcement of Inequality: Injustice perpetuates existing inequalities within society. When certain groups consistently receive favorable treatment from the legal system while others face discrimination or marginalization, it reinforces social divisions and exacerbates disparities in access to justice”.
The document signed by Comrade Emmanuel Acha, The South East Social Accountability Network (SESAN ),
Onyenoha Nnenna;, Citizens Centre For Integrated Development and Social Rights, Nnaemeka Onyejiuwa Democracy and Development Vanguards
Owerri further warned that people may resort to selfhelp when the judiciary fail to dispense justice.
” In extreme cases, the failure of the legal system to deliver justice may lead to vigilantism or mob justice as people take matters into their own hands in the absence of faith in the judicial process.
” Injustice can tarnish a country’s international reputation, particularly if it is perceived as failing to uphold human rights or rule of law standards. This can have diplomatic and economic repercussions, affecting relationships with other countries and international organizations”.
Warning that the outcome of the Imo governorship election tribunal judgment would have “far-reaching consequences, affecting not only the functioning of the legal system but also broader social, economic, and political dynamics within society which is already on its knees” the group pledged to remain vigilant until justice is served.
Other CSOs who endorsed the document including Chibundu Uchegbu, Better Community Life Initiative, Owerri
Victor Dorawa Koreyo, ,Abraham’s Children Foundation, Afikpo Ebonyi State,
Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor,: Foundation For Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD), Aba,
Okoye, Chuka Peter: Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS), Enugu, and
Amb. Peggy Chukwuemeka, Parent Child Intervention Centre (PCIC), Enugu.
