Presidential election tribunal: Segun Showunmi tells judges to be impartial

As Nigerians look to judges at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal for decisions on the various petitions before them, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Segun Showunmi, has released an open letter.

In the letter signed on Wednesday and made available to newsmen, Showunmi charged the judges to be impartial and unbiased in the discharge of their duties.

Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.

But, the candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar and that of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, have all filed various petitions before the tribunal in Abuja.

Showunmi, in his message to the election court, said “I wish you to know that things are pretty unusual this time, in my opinion, you are the last hope for all of us, we need to find our belief in our country and somehow the burden is on you, the general mood somewhat feels like people have lost a lot of faith, perhaps they have reasons to feel that way, and perhaps they don’t.”

He reminded them of the importance of the election tribunal in ensuring a fair and just electoral process in Nigeria.

“It is important for my lords to remain impartial and unbiased in their decisions, and to base their judgments solely on the evidence presented before you. My lords should also ensure that due process is followed and that all parties involved are given a fair hearing,” he said.

While noting that the responsibility of the election tribunal judges is great, Showunmi urged them to be guided by their commitment to justice, fairness, and the rule of law.

He said their decisions would have a lasting impact on the country and its people, saying “My Lords must take this responsibility seriously.”

The Egba Chief hopes that “the election tribunal will conduct its proceedings with diligence and fairness,” expressing confidence that their decisions would help in restoring faith in the electoral process and the country in general.

Showunmi further said, “INEC must be held to a high standard of transparency, fairness, and compliance with its rules and guidelines. The election tribunal judges must ensure that INEC’s actions are scrutinized properly and that they are held accountable for any failures or shortcomings in their duties.”

“The outcome of the election tribunal process will have a significant impact on the country’s national pride and its reputation as a leading democracy in Africa. It is therefore essential that my lords approach your task as a divine assignment to set things right and restore faith in the electoral process.

“The judgment of the election tribunal judges will serve as a turning point in how Nigeria organizes its elections and democracy going forward.”

Showunmi said it is essential that the outcome of the tribunal process is respected by all parties, setting precedents for future elections.

He wants the lessons learned from the tribunal to be used to improve the electoral process and ensure that future elections are transparent, fair and credible.

He prayed that the judges would carry out their duties with diligence, impartiality and fairness.