Nigerian youth, united under the banner of Stand Up Nigeria, have expressed their disapproval of the alleged intimidation of members of the Kano state Governorship Election Tribunal.
They have called on the National Judicial Council to relocate the Kano Division of the Court of Appeal to Abuja immediately.
The youth have voiced their opposition to comments made by certain political figures who have warned that the situation in Kano could escalate to levels seen in Zamfara.
This follows allegations that federal elements are attempting to sway the tribunal outcome in favor of the APC.
Patriot Sunday Attah, National Coordinator of Stand Up Nigeria, assured that “Kano state will not become like Zamfara neither will it become another Borno. There will be no war in Kano“.
“Abuja is a safe haven. Nobody can come and misbehave in Abuja. We are telling the NJC that any state that some elements have proven to be toxic, threatening the judges, then the NJC should relocate the judges to Abuja”, Attah stated.
The group emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of justices presiding over election matters nationwide and urged the NJC to take preemptive action by relocating such panels to Abuja.
The group also criticized the leadership of the New Nigeria People’s Party for allegedly threatening the judges and disturbing the peace in Kano State through its supporters. They advised politicians who have lost at the tribunals to prepare for future elections instead of stirring up conflict.
“You don’t have to intimidate the judiciary or cause war because you loose an election. The tenure is four years after which a fresh elections would be conducted. You may prepare yourself to contest again instead of sponsoring people to blackmail highly respected Justices of the election petition tribunal and intimidate the Appeal Court Judges all in a bid to reverse a sound judgement already delivered”, it stated.
In related news, The National Coalition against Terrorism, a collective of civic groups opposed to terror, had previously cautioned the Kwankwasiyya movement in Kano against intimidating judges of the Kano state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal. They also called on IGP Kayode Egbetokun to arrest and question leaders of this political movement over comments made by its members that were deemed inflammatory.
Justice Benson Anya, a member of the tribunal, claimed that he had received death threats from the Kwankwasiyya movement and specifically from a former commissioner in the NNPP administration. He stated in his ruling that “the judiciary cannot be intimidated.”
