Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23, 2019 Presidential election and former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has commended Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa for recusing herself from the Presidential election petition tribunal hearing his petition against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, President Muhammadu Buhari.
Atiku in a statement he signed on Thursday stated that her action showed courage and was an act of patriotism adding that she had, by this action, increased the confidence the public had 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.
He however noted that the call by his legal team for Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa to recuse herself from the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal was predicated on a principle which says nemo judex in causa sua (no man shall be a judge in his own case), being that her husband, Alhaji Mohammed Bulkachuwa, was an All Progressives Congress Senator-elect and that the case she was expected to adjudicate upon had a bearing on that party.
He continued,” 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”.
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