Bode George faults INEC over delay in enforcing Supreme Court judgment on PDP

By Dickson Omobola

ABUJA — Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Bode George, on Friday, criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, over what he described as delay in enforcing a Supreme Court judgment concerning the party’s internal affairs.

George expressed concern that months after the apex court upheld the suspension of members who acted contrary to the PDP’s constitutional processes, INEC was yet to recognise and implement the ruling.

The PDP chieftain warned that democracy would be endangered if court judgments were ignored, delayed or subjected to political considerations.

In a statement, George questioned why a lawful directive from the Supreme Court should be treated with what he termed indifference.

He said: “The Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has spoken on the affairs of the PDP. Its judgment affirmed the lawful structure and democratic operations of the party and upheld the suspension of those who acted contrary to the party’s constitutional processes.

“That judgment is not a suggestion. It is not open to selective interpretation. It is not subject to administrative convenience. It is the final and binding pronouncement of the highest court in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

According to him, every institution and public officer was constitutionally bound to obey the judgment of the Supreme Court.

George said it was troubling that weeks after the judgment was delivered and communicated, there appeared to be reluctance in giving effect to its provisions.

“This raises fundamental questions. Why should a judgment of the Supreme Court remain unattended for weeks after it has been delivered? Why should duly transmitted communications appear to receive no response?” he queried.

The elder statesman also reminded the Chairman of INEC, whom he described as a distinguished Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, of the need to uphold the rule of law.

“This is not merely about the PDP. This is about the integrity of our democratic institutions. This is about whether the rule of law will prevail over political expediency,” he stated.

George further warned against what he described as attempts by certain individuals outside the recognised leadership structure of the party to interfere in its affairs and frustrate its lawful processes.

Without mentioning specifics initially, he later referred to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, saying he had become “the public face of this discord.”

According to him, “No one can profess loyalty to one political party while advancing the interests of another. No one can claim allegiance to one platform while actively working against its constitution, leadership and democratic processes.”

George cautioned that weakening constitutional order for political advantage could have grave consequences for democratic institutions and national stability.

“As one who witnessed the turbulent years that preceded Nigeria’s darkest national crisis, I must sound a note of caution. Political instability does not begin with conflict. It begins when justice is denied, when lawful authority is disregarded, and when constitutional institutions fail to act courageously and impartially,” he said.

He, therefore, called on INEC to act in line with the Supreme Court judgment and the provisions of the Constitution.

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