Atiku/Obi vs Tinubu: PDP chieftain speaks on CJN Ariwoola removing self from Supreme Court's panel

A prominent member of the PDP in Lagos state, Demola Olarewaju, has said he does not see how the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, “would recuse himself from sitting on” the panel that will hear and give judgement on the cases brought by the opposition.

The cases are against the election of President Bola Tinubu.

Rumours started circulating on Tuesday, October 10, that Justice Inyang Okoro of Akwa Ibom state origin has been selected to head the Supreme Court's panel that'll decide the 2023 presidential election cases.

The speculators said, "the Supreme Court currently has about 11 Justices out of which seven are expected to make the panel".

Those circulating the claim stated that Ariwoola, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun and one other judge have recused themselves from the panel.

Apparently reacting to the speculation, Olarewaju, who is the Special Assistant on Digital Media Strategy to Atiku Abubakar, indicated that Ariwoola would not want to miss “such an opportunity to contribute firmly to electoral jurisprudence” in Africa's most populous nation.

The PDP chieftain expressed hope that the anticipated verdict of the Supreme Court will “be a blessed one for Nigeria”.

He wrote on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, October 10:

“I don't see how CJN Ariwoola would recuse himself from sitting on that panel. Not sure any CJN ever misses such an opportunity to contribute firmly to electoral jurisprudence.

"May their judgement be a blessed one for Nigeria.”