Afenifere Cautions Ohaneze against Invoking Nigerien Military Coup-type in Nigeria

Emameh Gabriel in Abuja

Yoruba’s frontline socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has called for caution by those it said were hiding under the guise of freedom of expression to incite treason and contempt of the court.

The call was contained in a statement by Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi.
In a statement credited to the factional Secretary-General of Ohaneze, Mr. Okechukwu Isiguzoro, he preempted the ongoing Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, and flayed what he described as “intimidation of the judiciary”.

Ohaneze, had in a press release last Tuesday, August 4, 2023, insinuated that the type of military situation that occurred in neighbouring Niger Republic in July might happen in Nigeria if “the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) judges ‘came up with an erroneous judgement.

But in reaction, Afenifere asserted that, “everyone knows that the only means of changing government known to law is through the ballot box.”
The organisation maintained that, “This is not just a constitutional provision in Nigeria, it is also the norm in all countries that hold the right of the people to determine, who governs them as sacrosanct.”

Afenifere considered the aspect of Isiguzoro’s statement on FCT status in regard to election results as subjudice in view of the fact that it was one of the key issues before the court.

According to Afenifere, this statement is too weighty not to be challenged because of its far-reaching implications.
“In the first place, the issue of FCT status on which there was already a judicial pronouncement is also one of the issues before the Tribunal presently.
“Secondly, even if a party in a political case considered the judgement of a tribunal or court as ‘erroneous’, the option is not to call for military takeover as the law clearly provides room for me proceeding to the appellate court.
Ajayi explained that Isiguzoro’s position, among other things, contravened Section 133 of the Criminal Code Act in Nigeria.