The Civil Liberties Organisations CLO, Akwa Ibom State chapter has cautioned political parties and politicians in the state against making utterances capable of inflaming the polity.
The Chairman of CLO in the state, Franklyn Isong made the call on Wednesday following the rift between the All Progressives Congress and the People’s Democratic Party PDP over the former’s agitation for the removal of Justice Jennifer Ijohor as the election tribunal chairman in Akwa Ibom state.
He stated that the call was coming too late and was capable of degenerating into political tension.
The APC chairman, Ini Okopido had, at a press conference last Saturday, called for the resignation of the chairman of the Election Petition Tribunal for the National and State Assembly Election in the state, Justice Jennifer Ijohor, on grounds that she would not be objective in her judgement at the tribunal.
Okopido said as wife to the Secretary to Benue State Government, Anthony Ijohor (SAN) under a PDP administration there will be conflict of interests in the discharge of her duties.
Reacting to the comments, Isong advised political parties and politicians to allow the tribunal free hands to carry out its functions.
He said any politician that was not satisfied with the judgement could thereafter seek redress in a higher Court of law.
The statement said ” it is our considered view that the call for the resignation of the Tribunal chairman by the APC was coming too late as it could heat up the polity and degenerate into political tension in the state.
“Our concern is that the way and manner political parties and politicians are approaching their matters before the tribunals, if not checked, could cause avoidable political crisis.
“The CLO wishes to advise that all parties that have matters before the Tribunal to allow the tribunals to adjudicate on the matters, and anyone that is not satisfied with the tribunal’s judgement at the end of the day, still has a right within the law to go on appeal to a higher court, instead of resorting to public statements that could politicise the judiciary and bring its image to disrepute”.
Isong also advised media practitioners in the state to remain unbiased in their coverage of the sittings and proceedings of the Election Petition Tribunals in Akwa Ibom State.
