The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate In The February Presidential Election, Atiku Abubakar, Has Praised Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa’s Decision To Withdraw The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Panel.
The former vice president said the decision of his legal team to request that the President of the Court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa, withdraws from the presidential election petition tribunal “was not a reflection on Justice Bulkachuwa’s character or competence.”
Atiku said instead: “As a matter of fact, I have great respect for her, being a pioneer and advocate for gender equality and female empowerment,” adding that it was based on moral principle.
“It was predicated on this principle, being that her husband, Alhaji Mohammed Bulkachuwa, is an All Progressives Congress senator-elect and the case she was expected to adjudicate upon had a bearing on that party.”
Further, he said her decision to finally recuse herself from the panel was a demonstration of courage and integrity. “Her action showed courage and is an act of patriotism. She has, by this action, increased the confidence the public have for the judiciary.”
The PDP and its candidate are challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the election and opted to ask Mrs Bulkachuwa to withdraw from the five-member panel she headed.
On Wednesday, the tribunal ruled against Mr Abubakar and the PDP. It said both parties could not prove the possibility of bias against the judge and that Mrs Bulkachuwa’s husband was not a party to the suit.
Despite the ruling of the tribunal, however, Mrs Bulkachuwa refused herself from the panel on ‘personal grounds.’
In his statement issued Thursday, Mr Abubakar said: “One of the principal maxims of the Common Law is nemo judex in causa sua (no man shall be a judge in his own case).
“The call by my legal team for Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa to recuse herself from the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal was predicated on this principle, being that her husband, Alhaji Mohammed Bulkachuwa, is an All Progressives Congress senator-elect and the case she was expected to adjudicate upon had a bearing on that party.
“My legal team’s objection was not a reflection on Justice Bulkachuwa’s character or competence. As a matter of fact, I have great respect for her, being a pioneer and advocate for gender equality and female empowerment.
“It is with this in mind that I commend Justice Bulkachuwa for recusing herself from the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Panel hearing my petition against the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Her action showed courage and is an act of patriotism. She has, by this action, increased the confidence the public have for the judiciary.
“Not only do I commend her, I also pray, especially in this holy month of Ramadan, that Justice will be done by the tribunal according to the fear of God and not in keeping with respect for the powers that be”, he said and prayed for God bless the judiciary.
