The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has submitted a formal complaint to the disciplinary committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) regarding what it considers “deprecating remarks” made by the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, and a spokesperson of the party’s campaign council, Kenneth Okonkwo, against the justices of the Supreme Court.
The APC argues that such incendiary comments about the judiciary are a violation of their duty as legal practitioners.
APC’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, emphasized their commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the judiciary and preventing it from being discredited by individuals who are expected to know better. He urged the accused individuals to address these allegations rather than engage in unwarranted confrontations.
In response, the Labour Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, pointed out that the petition against Abure and Okonkwo was evidence of their earlier warnings regarding the alleged intentions of President Bola Tinubu and the APC to target their party leaders and presidential candidate, Peter Obi. Ifoh argued that this action confirmed their suspicions of persecution, harassment, intimidation, and incarceration against the Labour Party and its supporters.
Ifoh further emphasized that post-judgment comments and criticisms, especially on political matters, are part of the democratic process and administrative review. He stated that such expressions were made in their roles as the National Chairman of the Labour Party and the spokesperson of the Obi Datti Presidential Council, and not in their personal or professional capacities as legal practitioners.
The Labour Party called on democratic forces and individuals concerned with upholding human rights and the Constitution to unite against what they perceive as a dictatorial trend aimed at suppressing opposition parties and their supporters. They also called on the NBA to maintain its independence and not be drawn into partisan politics.
