The Peoples Democratic Party has knocked the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), and the Federal Government of Nigeria, over the allegation of a planned public holiday, to disrupt the sitting of the judiciary, over the double nomination case of the Vice President-elect, Senator Kassim Shettima, on May 26, 2023.
The party in a Press Release issued on Wednesday, PDP alleged that the APC-led FG was planning to mount pressure on the Department of State Security Services, to advise Buhari to declare the public holiday.
The party, which warned that the independence of the judiciary must be respected, said people all over the world are waiting to witness the disqualification of Shettima’s double nomination, on May 26, as scheduled.
Read the full text below:
“May 24, 2023
Press Statement
Shettima: PDP Tasks Buhari, FG to Speak Out on Public Holiday Allegation
…Cautions APC to Respect the Independence of the Judiciary
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) calls on the Federal Government and President Muhammadu Buhari to speak out on the alarming reports in the public space of moves to declare Friday, May 26, 2023, a public holiday as a ploy to stop the Supreme Court from sitting to deliver judgment on the disqualification case against the APC Vice Presidential candidate, Sen. Kashim Shettima, over double nomination, already scheduled for that date.
“The PDP also calls on the Federal Government to come clean on a further allegation, which is also in the public domain that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is mounting pressure on the Department of State Services (DSS) to advise President Buhari to declare the public holiday.
“The ominous silence by the Federal Government in the face of such grave allegations is heightening tension across the country and can trigger a widespread crisis if not immediately addressed.
“Such a reported sinister plot by the APC against the Supreme Court is consistent with the insensitivity, manipulation, abuse of power and process promoted by the APC as an act of governance in the last eight years.
“The PDP, therefore calls on President Buhari to immediately douse the palpable tension in the country by making a categorical statement about the reported plots by the APC to stop the sitting of the Supreme Court through the declaration of a public holiday.
“Nigerians across the board are eager for the delivery of the judgement on the set date, Friday, May 26, 2023, in the disqualification case against Sen. Kashim Shettima, for double nomination as APC Senatorial and Vice-Presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections in violation of the provision of Section 35 of the Electoral Act, 2022.
“The APC must respect the independence of the Judiciary and the Supreme Court in the administration of justice as guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Principle of Separation of Powers as enshrined in the Constitution.
“Nigeria is already strained and any attempt to impose a public holiday on Friday, May 26, 2023, as a ploy to stop the Supreme Court from delivering its reserved judgment is capable of increasing the tension with possible dire consequences to the polity.
“Signed:
Hon. Debo Ologunagba
National Publicity Secretary.”