[dropcap]P[/dropcap]eter Obi’s supporters have added a respected lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba, to the list of their enemies over a comment attributed to the legal luminary that May 29 is sacrosanct.
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Agbakoba had in a post declared that regardless of the election petition process ongoing at the court, it is constitutional that a new president be sworn-in on May 29.
He wrote:
Amidst ongoing election tribunal petitions, it is crucial to emphasize that the inauguration of Mr. Bola Tinubu on May 29, 2023, is an event that will transpire within the bounds of our constitutional process.
As we navigate through the tribunal proceedings, it is important to recognize that there is no constitutional provision to delay the scheduled inauguration on the designated date of 29 May 2023.
In upholding the principles of constitutionalism, we must adhere to the rule of law and respect the established processes outlined in our constitution.
Respecting constitutional norms is fundamental to upholding the foundation of our democratic system.
The remedy is to speed up the election petition process to avoid inaugurating a president-elect when there is a pending petition.
Many wondered the sudden change of heart, especially the Obidients, who saw his recent takes as an act of sabotage to ‘reclaiming Obi’s mandate’ at the court.
Recall that it was Agbakoba who started the 25 percent Federal Capital Territory(FCT) requirement debacle in an interview he granted to Arise TV.
He listed section 134(2) of the Nigerian constitution, which provides the conditions to be met before one is declared a winner of a presidential election and section 35 of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) which forbids candidates from contesting two positions in an election.
But it looked like the Obidients misquoted the lawyer and didn’t read the part where Agbajoba stated that in order to avoid swearing in Tinubu, the court needs to speed up the judgement before the date.
One wrote: @oagbakoba You say that we need to obey the rule of constitutionalism, but was the rule of this constitutionalism obeyed in the declaration of Tinubu as winner when he clearly didn’t meet the Constitutional requirements? Isn’t this hypocrisy and a mockery of our legal system?
Another said: F00l
Oba Adenuga wrote: Same you was suggesting election tribunal should conclude before inauguration on national TV sir. Having being an erudite legal luminary, one who understands the Herculean task of proving election petition. I am trying understand why you suddenly have change of mind sir?
@aron_Obidati shared screenshots from BBC investigation and with a caption: Was is under constitution to openly rigged the election, was it under constitution to not have scored 25% in FCT. Shameless people everywhere, it will not be better for your generation.
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Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
