PDP berates CJN over political comment

Ariwoola had reportedly made the statement on Thursday at a dinner held in his honour by Rivers State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt.

In a statement on Saturday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Barrister Debo Ologunagba, berated the CJN over his comment that he is elated that Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde is a member of the Integrity Group, which is lead by five governors of the party opposed to the National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu.

The group is insisting on Ayu’s resignation as a precondition to support the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. The group wants Ayu to step down over northern dominance of the party leadership.

Other governors in the group are Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).

However, Ologunagba said: “By delving into the internal affairs of the PDP at a public event in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Thursday, 24th November 2022 where he was reported to have made reference to the political activities of some PDP governors, which comment is viewed to be encouraging division in our party, the PDP posits that the CJN’s action is unacceptable and inconsistent with his status as the head of the judicial arm of government.

“Irrespective of the circumstance or situation, the CJN is expected to be circumspect at all times and avoid partisan actions and utterances that are likely to erode the institutional integrity of the judiciary and bring it to disrepute especially as the nation prepares for the 2023 general elections.

“In a Federal Republic such as Nigeria, with a constitutional separation of powers, the judiciary is entrusted with the responsibility of interpretation of the laws and as such should be seen to be neutral at all times and endeavour to interpret and review the laws in the context of the case and controversy of the parties before it”.