SUPREME COURT VERDICTS: Sagay Berates Judgments as Perverse, Threat To Democracy

Professor Itse Sagay (SAN)

CHAIRMAN of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay (SAN) has berated the Supreme Court of Nigeria over the reasons (ratio decidendi) it adduced on the recent rulings in which it affirmed the governorship elections of the Rivers and Akwa-ibom states in favour of the peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s candidates, Nyesom Wike and Emmanuel Udom respectively stating that the reasons were inconsistent with the legal justice system.

The eminent Senior Advocate of Nigeria who visibly registered his disappointment on the judgments stated that the apex court has by the judgment created dangerous precedents which will certainly have adverse effects on the society in subsequent elections in the country adding that the great efforts put in place by Professor Attahiru Jega have been messed up completely.

“The judgments are very perverse, particularly relating to Akwa-Ibom and Rivers. Everybody knows there were no elections in those two states. Everybody knows people like Governor Wike climbed to the governorship seat.   

“They wrote the results. Evidence is there. What the Supreme Court  has done is to set the clock of electoral excellence, fairness and credibility  back. It’s taking us back to when Prof Jeg came in to sanitise the system.

“We are going to have primitive and barbaric electoral culture from now on.  It means kill as much as you can and destroy as much as you can and create as much catastrophe, if you can find yourself in that seat you are confirmed regardness of the means by which you get there. The judgments are major setback to democracy and the rule of law," Sagay stated.