SAVE NIGERIA'S DEMOCRACY: NLC, CSOs Plead With Judiciary .... Say INEC Has Driven A Nail Into The Electoral Coffin Of The Country, Threatens To Name, Shame Corrupt Judges

"The judiciary had through its many flops attracted many questions from Nigerians." Joe Ajaero, NLC President.

"If they fail to answer those questions within a short time, we would create a hall of shame for those judges that come up with judgements, for those judges that create such problems, that would happen soon."

Nigeria's judiciary, especially Judges of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court have been called upon to help safeguard the country's democracy by doing justice to all the election petitions brought before them.

This call came from Organised Labour and the Civil Society coalition, under the aegis of Citizens' Democratic Movement.

The occasion coincided with the global celebration of the International Workers Day holding today, 1 May 2023.

The movement, comprising several civil society and youth organisations, insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had seriously damaged the country’s democracy with its poor showing at the elections. They also vowed to name and shame corrupt leaders.Co-conveners of the movement included Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, Comrade Shehu Sani, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo, Professor Udenta Udenta, Salisu Mohammed, and Olawale Okunniyi. 

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) was represented by its President, Joseph Ajaero while the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had its General Secretary, Nuhu Toro, in attendance.

Nigerian workers joined their counterparts worldwide to commemorate the historic struggles and gains made by workers and the labour movement.

Prominent Nigerian leaders participated in the May Day celebration by sending felicitations to the country’s workers for their courage, commitment, and patriotism.  

Ajaero, who joined a meeting of the Citizens’ Democratic Movement midway, appealed to the judiciary to use the opportunity of adjudicating in the petitions from the 2023 general election to redeem its fast waning image.He said the labour movement and its allies were prepared this time to monitor the operations of the judiciary.

The NLC president said labour and its allies would not hesitate to name and shame judges known to have compromised objectivity in an effort to undermine the wishes and interest of Nigerians.

Ajaero said the judiciary had through its many flops attracted many questions from Nigerians, adding, “If they fail to answer those questions within a short time, we would create a hall of shame for those judges that come up with judgements, for those judges that create such problems, that would happen soon.

”He further said there was need for the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and all arms of the judiciary to speak out on happenings in the judiciary and frankly ponder whether the judiciary was still the last hope of the common man.

Urging members of the judiciary to remember that the destiny of the country was in their hands, Ajaero said, “It is either they fulfil it or they betray it once again. When they tell you go to the court, they are telling you that, that is the end of the matter. Somebody will steal yam and say go to the court. On what basis are those statements being used?

“That’s the level of ridicule that the judiciary has been brought and as Nigerians, we all need to come out to rescue the judiciary, else there’ll be no need to continue go to court.”

Ajaero noted that NLC identified with the movement not necessarily on political basis, but in order to rescue the country.

In a statement titled, “The Threatening Decomposition of Democracy in Nigeria and the Urgent Need for Citizens’ Intervention,” Citizens’ Democratic Movement said despite the trust Nigerians had that INEC would deliver a free and fair general election, the commission failed woefully and, instead, allowed the process to be hijacked by corrupt and discredited politicians.

Addressing journalists at the end of their meeting at Labour House, in Abuja, yesterday, spokesperson of the group, Toyo, accused INEC of attempting to destroy democracy by failing to uphold the provisions of the Electoral Act and even their own set rules.

Toyo stated, “This 2023 general election became an anti-climax, dashing the hopes of Nigerians for credible elections and denyin