• Promises no one will be favoured against another
• PDP chieftain expresses confidence in judiciary

The Supreme Court has refuted rumours suggesting President Bola Tinubu held a phone conversation with Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, where both discussed the outcome of presidential election petitions. Director of Press and Information, Dr Akande Festus, made the clarification in a statement in Abuja, yesterday.

The statement reads in part: “In view of the rumour currently circulating on social media that CJN Olukayode Ariwoola had a telephone conversation with President Bola Tinubu and Director General of Department of State Service (DSS), with a view to pressurising the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on likely judgment to give, it is imperative to state clearly that there is no iota of truth in the narrative, as there was no such telephone conversation between the CJN and anyone.

“Nigerians have been following proceedings at the tribunal with admirable enthusiasm. So, it is advisable we all sustain the tempo and follow it up to the end, instead of relapsing into the realm of speculations and rumour peddling that will not do anyone any good.

“If this current trend of falsehood and mudslinging is sustained, our nation may not make desired progress. The courts are statutorily established to serve the best interest of the masses; and we are ever poised to do that, to the best of our ability.

“We wish to plead with everyone to cooperate with the judiciary to serve the country to its full capacity, as no one will ever be favoured against the other in any dispute.

“The rule of law and supremacy of the Nigerian Constitution will always be upheld and applied in every matter that comes before the courts; as the facts presented and subsisting laws must be applied in determining the merit or otherwise of each matter.

“The public should be rest assured that justice will be done to all matters pending in the various courts across the country, irrespective of who is involved.”

Meanwhile, the Director, Strategy and Research of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential campaign council, Pedro Obaseki, in an interview with journalists in Abuja, expressed confidence that judges will summon the courage to address issues raised by opposition parties in the 2023 presidential election.

Obaseki, who specifically referred to the petition by Allied Peoples Movement (APM), seeking the nullification of Tinubu and Kashim Shetimma’s victory, said the “issue of eligibility is key.”

“The first thing is eligibility; if 10 people follow me to run a race, I can begin to question who won, only if those 10 people were qualified. That is what has been thrown up by the APM petition.

“It looked at whether Tinubu could have run for the polls, and if he could, was his nomination by his party valid? This is a constitutional problem, a question that the court must answer because it is the foundation of the entire race from the beginning,” Obaseki said.