Former Kaduna Senator Shehu San, Thursday, said that he supports the decision of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the November 11 off-cycle Kogi gubernatorial election, Dino Melaye, not to challenge the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Usman Ododo, as the winner of the poll.
Sani expressed his support in a post on his official X account in response to Melaye’s announcement that he would not contest the election result in court.
The former Kaduna senator also alleged that, in line with recent judicial decisions, pursuing an election case in court would be a waste of time and resources.
He claimed that the judiciary is now allegedly influenced by the highest bidders.
News About Nigeria reported that Melaye, on Wednesday, revealed that he would not go to court because the judiciary is no longer independent but a department of the APC.
“The judiciary is no longer the last hope of the ordinary people; it is now a department under the All Progressives Congress. Why should any responsible person go to the tribunal when the APC has captured the judiciary? I have lost complete confidence in the judiciary,” stated the PDP candidate.
Dino also noted that the judiciary, which is meant to be the hope of the common man, is no longer fulfilling its role as it should.
The Kogi PDP candidate called on all opposition political parties in Nigeria to withdraw from future elections unless and until the current INEC, constituted by APC members, is dissolved and a new set of nonpartisan Chairman and Commissioners are appointed to INEC.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had announced Ododo as the winner of the election, polling 446,237 votes, while his closest rival, Murtala Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), polled 259,052. Melaye of the PDP came a distant third with 46,362 votes.
