The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has praised the recent rulings made by various courts regarding the petitions arising from the 2023 general elections.
NBA President Yakubu Maikyau expressed his approval during a speech in Yola on Saturday. According to him, the judges had delivered fair verdicts, News About Nigeria reports.
“Wherever there is justice, there also is commendation, as the people would connect to the justice of the case,” the NBA President said.
Addressing an Emergency National Executive Committee meeting in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, Maikyau urged all levels of government to ensure their decisions align with the constitution before implementation. He said the role of NBA members is to offer guidance and protection to both citizens and government officials.
Meanwhile, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, represented by Deputy Governor Kaletapwa Farauta, emphasised the importance of maintaining public trust in the judiciary.
He urged the legal profession to hold accountable those who undermine integrity while celebrating those who demonstrate honesty, skill, bravery, and patriotism.
In her remarks, Adamawa State Chief Judge, Justice Hapsat Abdulrahaman, encouraged NBA meeting participants to make decisions that strengthen the bar’s relevance.
She commended the judiciary for entrusting numerous women with the responsibility of handling election petitions nationwide.
Opposition parties and their supporters had opposed several rulings throughout the nationwide elections in 2023, particularly that of the presidential election, where the tribunal and Supreme Court upheld President Bola Tinubu’s victory.
Tinubu’s primary political rivals, Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, contested the validity of the February 2023 election, alleging irregularities and fraud.
Both Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi’s parties released separate statements rejecting the court’s verdict and confirming Tinubu’s victory.
The Labour Party contended that justice was not served and accused the judges of manipulating the law to undermine the people’s will.
Meanwhile, the PDP criticised the judgment, claiming it relied on technicalities and failed to consider the facts and legal provisions.
