The Senior Pastor of Awaiting The Second Coming of Jesus Christ Gospel Church, Pastor Adewale Giwa on Friday called the Nigerian judiciary to redeem its credibility through the ongoing suit instituted by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2019 election, Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku is currently challenging the authenticity of President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in the 2019 poll at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
However, Giwa said Nigerians were anxiously waiting for the outcome of the petition at the tribunal and possibly at the Supreme Court.
In a statement he signed and forwarded to DAILY POST, Giwa said: “To set the record straight, the Judiciary in Nigeria is not truly independent likewise the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). These two main pillars of our system should, however, be called ‘Dependent Regulatory Bodies’ instead.
“Majority and unbiased Nigerians today will tell you that they have lost confidence in INEC and the Judiciary. The Judiciary should be the last hope of the common man, but the commission has continued to demonstrate its incompetence to Nigerians over the years.
“As it is, I hope it can still redeem its credibility in the ongoing presidential election case. There are a lot to be addressed in Nigeria, but I doubt if the political leaders can deem it necessary.
“Imagine the 1999 Constitution still remains in force today in Nigeria. This is an outdated constitution that needs to be changed if we sincerely want the best for the country. If Kenya could be using 2010 constitution, what stops us from enacting a new one?
“Kenya constitution was presented to the Attorney General of the country on April 2010, and was subjected to a referendum on August 2010 with approval of 67% of Kenya voters.
“We have three arms of government, the Judiciary, the Executive and the Legislature. By the principles of separation of powers, each of them is supposed to be autonomous. In Nigeria today, we have a state government dictating to Judiciary.
“Judiciary is depending on governments before it survives in terms of salaries and other things. This, should not be so in a country where a true Federalism is being practised.”
