Revealed: How 10 Federal High Court decisions saved Buhari, democracy in 2015 polls
/ 4 days ago
Unknown to Nigerians and foreigners, the Federal High Court (FHC) took 10 decisions that enabled the candidature of President Muhammadu Buhari and helped democracy to survive the 2015 general elections beyond the expectations of many who thought it would collapse.
The Daily Times exclusively stumbled on a document last Friday, containing the list of 10 decisions of the FHC that changed the narrative over the 2015 polls.
The federal High Court decisions on different applications by the litigants at that time changed the situation from what could have happened if the measures were not put in place to save democracy.
One of the decisions included the rejection of 20 cases that were filed at the court to stop the registration of All Progressive Congress (APC), the current ruling party as a political party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The decision also included the non- disqualification of the then governors: Rotimi Ameachi (Rivers), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) who defected from the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) to the then opposition APC, which was viewed by the litigants as unconstitutional.
The Federal High Court also refused to disqualify the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal (now Sokoto state governor), Senator Bukola Saraki (now Senate President), some senators and 36 members of the House of Representatives for defecting from the PDP to the APC.
The court took a decision and rejected five cases that were filed challenging the use of card readers which was neither in the Electoral Act nor in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Besides, the court further ignored 18 cases that were filed against President Muhammadu Buhari’s certificate.
The leadership of the Federal High Court also directed the judges not to entertain any ex-parte application, seeking to stop the then National Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega from continuing with announcement of election results.
There was also a curious motion filed on May 27, 2015 (two days to May 29) with a view to stopping the swearing in of Buhari by the Chief Justice of Nigeria over certificate issue.
The Daily Times also learnt that the leadership of the court had to take a critical decision on the matter.
Sensing the implication of any pronouncement, the court fixed the hearing of the suit till a date after Buhari took his oath of office.
The Daily Times further learnt that throughout the period, the APC did not lose a single case at the Federal High Court even though the party was in opposition.
It was also gathered that no single ex-parte motion was issued by the Federal High Hourt against the APC throughout the period as a single ex-parte order could have changed so many things.
Another remarkable decision was the judgment from the Federal High Court on Sokoto which stopped the soldiers from participating in the electoral process.
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