PDP Laments Buhari’s Attack On Judiciary

Being part of the remark by the Acting National Chairman of The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, at the inauguration of the Imo State PDP Caretaker Committee today, Monday, February 1, 2016.
The peoples Democratic Party (PDP) urges the judiciary, as the last hope of the common man, to continue to assert its independence and not allow itself to be deterred from upholding justice and the rule of law, no matter the pressure

The judicial community and in fact, all discerning Nigerians were shocked by the release by the Presidency on Sunday wherein President Muhammadu Buhari was quoted to have described the judiciary as the 'major headache' of his administration.

This statement is a direct affront on the statutorily guaranteed independence of the judiciary and more worrisome is the fact that a President of a country had to tie back already settled judgments of the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land, in cases involving him, as a benchmark of his assessment of the institution of the judiciary at the moment.

While we express worry at the attacks on the judicial arm of government, we are aware that they are intended to blackmail and stampede the judiciary to deliver judgments against the PDP in various pending cases involving our party and some of our leaders in the courts.

While we urge the judiciary to ensure that it adequately guards its flanks from all external influences, we also caution the executive to focus on governance, while respecting the constitutionally guaranteed principle of separation of powers by allowing the judiciary and the legislature indeed, all statutory arms of government to freely operate within the bounds provided by our laws.

Finally, the PDP wishes to call on critical stakeholders to appreciate the fact that the Judiciary, in its nature as an arbiter, cannot join issues with the other arms, and such needs to be defended from the brazen blackmail by the APC-led Government.

Signed:

Prince Uche Secondus
Acting National Chairman

####

Note that Acting Chairman's remark came during the inauguration of the Caretaker Committee of Imo state PDP.

He charged the committee to be fair, just and balanced, accommodate every interest and restore Imo PDP to winning ways, especially as APC government in the state has failed woefully.

The PDP Imo Caretaker Committee:

Hon. Vitalis Okafor -           Chairman
Sir Martin Ejiogu -             Deputy Chairman
Chief Innocent Ikpemezie -      Member
Chief Fabian Ogbonna -          Member
Chidi Onuoha    -               Member
Chief Peter Ezenwa Orji-        Member
Chief Isaac Anyim               -Member
Chief Henry Onwukwe -           Member
Chief Eze Ugochukwu     -       Member
Rt. Hon Okechukwu Dike -        Member
Sir. Roy Iwuala         -       Member
Hon. Emma Dike          -       Member
Sir Bon Unachukwu       -       Member
Chief Mrs. Josephine Nnoaham- Member
Chief Mrs. Vivian Echeruo.....Member/Secretary