The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended its campaign for 72 hours to protest the suspension of Walter Onnoghen as chief justice of Nigeria (CJN).
President Muhammadu Buhari suspended Onnoghen on Friday, citing an order by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).
Buhari had sworn in Tanko Muhammad from Bauchi state as acting chief justice of Nigeria.
In a statement, Uche Secondus, national chairman of the PDP said the party decided to suspend its campaign because democracy is “under attack”.
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“Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council has suspended its presidential campaign in protest of President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to suspend the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen,” the statement read.
“The PDP Campaign Council further predicated the suspension of its campaign activities in solidarity with Nigerians in our collective rejection of the assault against our democratic order.”
“The basis for this election is the democracy itself. When democracy comes under this kind of virulent attack, then the election itself becomes superfluous.
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“In the first instance, we are suspending our campaign for 72 hours. It is our hope that President Buhari will listen to the voice of all lovers of democracy the world over and restore democracy in Nigeria immediately and without qualifications. At the moment, the President has effectively suspended the constitution under whose basis the elections are being contested.
“The action of President Buhari represents a constitutional breach and a direct attack on our democracy. This must never be allowed to stand, as there is no way by which democracy can survive under these autocratic tendencies.
“We call on all well meaning Nigerians to rise in defence of democracy and save our nation from this imminent slide into tyranny.”
The presidential campaign was scheduled to be in Benue state on Saturday.
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Below is a timeline of Onnoghen’s CCB case:
- January 7: A civil society group, Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), petitions the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) against Onnoghen.
- January 9: The bureau receives the petition from the group led by Dennis Aghanya, a former aide of Buhari.
- January 12: Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) files six-count charge against Onnoghen at the CCT.
- January 12: CCT fixes January 14 for the arraignment of Onnoghen.
- January 14: Onnoghen absent at the tribunal while Wole Olanipekun, his lawyer, challenged the jurisdiction of tribunal to entertain the matter. On the same day, a high court asked the tribunal to halt proceedings in Onnoghen’s case.
- January 15: The industrial court asks the tribunal to stay proceedings in the case.
- January 21: The industrial court reinforces its ruling.
- January 22: Hearing of the charges against Onnoghen resumes with Aliyu Umar, counsel to the federal government, asking the tribunal to give an order asking Onnoghen to step aside.
- January 24: The Abuja division of the appeal court orders the tribunal to stay proceedings in Onnoghen’s at the CCT.
- January 25: Buhari suspends Onnoghen, basing his decision on an order of the tribunal.
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