Protests erupted in Abuja on Saturday, headed by the Free Nigeria Movement (FNM).
The group stormed the Court of Appeal headquarters in Abuja, seat of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), to demand that the judiciary be fair and unbiased in the outcome of the ongoing adjudication on the February 25 presidential election.
The protesters, mostly dressed in black, were also in show of sympathy with the victims of insecurity across the country and demanded an end to recent killings especially in the North-central part of Nigeria.
They carried several placards with inscriptions like; ‘INEC Must Revert Polling Unit Results’, ‘We Take A Stand – May Nigeria Win’, ‘Stop The Violence’, ‘Nigeria Not For Sale’, and ‘We Stand For Justice’, among others.
They also chanted slogans, advocating for justice and transparency in the legal process at the Tribunal and good governance.
Addressing the crowd of protesters, convener of the group, Dr Moses Paul, said the group does not support any political party but stand in solidarity with the people of Nigeria in defence of justice and good governance.
He said, “We are standing here and decisions are being made right now inside the Appeal Court, we are demanding for the right thing to be done.
“Any judge that decides to collect money or decides not to follow the constitution of Nigeria, any judge that decides to do the wrong thing so that Nigeria can go down, e no go better for una!.
“The entire Africa and the world is waiting for us to show dignity, honestly, direction and leadership because until Nigeria takes its seat in the comity of nations, Africa is going nowhere, we cannot watch our nation degrade to nothing when the world is watching and waiting for us.
“We have seen so much death and blood that we are not even crying anymore. We stand here for equity, justice, fairness and accountability, that’s our demand,” he added.
Also speaking, a member of the group, Lucky Obiyan, expressed concerns over the plan of a political working class to overtake national interest ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.
Obiyan said, “The Free Nigeria Movement refuses to pitch its tent with the 10th Assembly that will become an appendage under the whims and caprices of the ruling party.
“In regard for judiciary, from the Appellate Court to the Supreme Court, please allow justice to reign, don’t sell justice to the highest bidder.”
The protest was peaceful amidst heavy presence of armed police personnel at the premises of the Appeal Court with no reports of violence or arrest.
However, tensions remain high as the country awaits the outcome of the petitions before PEPC. The judiciary was yet to respond to the protesters’ demands, but many of them were hopeful that their voices will be heard and that justice will be served at the end of the day.
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