Onnoghen: Buhari Plotting To Annex Judiciary —PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the President Muhammadu Buhari Presidency of plotting to destabilise and annex the Judiciary ahead of the 2019 general elections sequel to news to remove Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen.

The Director, Media and Publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan stated this in a press statement he signed on Saturday.

The party also alerts of allegations that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and cabal at the Buhari Presidency are hounding CJN Onnoghen.

Mr. Ologbondiyan said that Buhari is “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”.

According to him, this is particularly following allegations that the APC seeks a new CJN that will aid its rigging schemes.

Ologbondiyan also stressed that APC is looking for a pliable CJN that will 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 noted in part:

“This development is a clear recipe for anarchy and a huge crisis that is capable of fracturing our justice system and derail our democracy .

“It portends a prelude to a total clamp down on institutions of democracy and rule of law in our country.

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

On the lingering debate on the possible extension of tenure of the current Inspector General of Police [IGP], Ibrahim Kpotum Idris, Ologbondiyan 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.”

He also challenged President Buhari to 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.

“Finally, the PDP counsels 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,” he added.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook