Nigeria laws forbid Governors to be sued because of the immunity they enjoy
Eyitayo Jegede, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in last year’s Ondo State governorship election, has said the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Mai Mala Buni, was not joined as a respondent in his petition because of the immunity he (Buni) enjoys as a governor.
He said the tribunal should have struck out the petition at the first hearing if Buni were to be part of the suit.
Jegede stated this while speaking at a meeting with PDP leaders at the party’s secretariat in Akure.
He pointed out that Nigeria laws forbid Governors to be sued because of the immunity they enjoy.
“Election matters have laws that govern them, Governor Buni could not have been a respondent. In fact, if we had joined him, our case would have been struck out on the very first day.
“But the Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and its verdict is final on all matters. I appeal to you to continue to have respect and place hope on our judiciary. Only God is perfect in all things,” he said.
Jegede urged Ondo PDP leaders and members to give themselves a pat on the back for fighting a good cause aimed at strengthening and deepening the country’s democratic institutions.
He said posterity would not fail to place him on the right side of history.
“You know they said we don’t have a case. They said we jettisoned our 400 witnesses to pursue what is not. But today we have been vindicated by the pronouncement of the Supreme Court.
“The court agreed with us that there was an actual breach of the Constitution. The judgement has sent jitters into the spines of APC and today cabinet ministers are shouting themselves hoarse over the implication of the judgement.
“We have fought a good fight and posterity will not fail to place us on the right side of history.
“We must respect our laws at all times even if heaven will fall. And of course, heaven will not even fall if we all take it upon ourselves to obey our own laws, no matter whose ox is gored,” Jegede said.
Ondo PDP leaders, who spoke at the meeting, promised never to let Jegede down on all occasions.
