The United States (USA) chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has issued a warning to opposition parties and critics of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to be cautious about court contempt when expressing opinions on the controversy surrounding the President’s Chicago State University academic certificate.
The Herald reports that the warning comes after the Chairman of the Supreme Court panel hearing the appeals against Tinubu’s election, Justice John Okoro, asked the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to prove his allegation of certificate forgery against the President beyond a reasonable doubt.
Atiku had accused Tinubu of falsifying the CSU diploma of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration awarded in 1979, which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In response to the events in the Supreme Court, the Chairman of APC USA, Prof. Tai Balofin, condemned Atiku’s alleged continuous embarrassment of the President over the certificate saga as unbecoming, especially when CSU has already confirmed its authenticity.
He further called on the opposition to demonstrate maturity in their pursuit of democratic ideals, noting that subjecting the President’s academic matter to media trial amounts to contempt of the court.
Balofin also stated that the APC USA Chapter is yet to uncover any substantive evidence suggesting that President Tinubu’s diploma, as submitted to INEC, is a fraudulent document.
He added that the APC USA Chapter “fervently implores opposition factions and all political stakeholders to uphold the tenets of the legal process and refrain from actions that may bring ignominy upon our nation. The opposition must exhibit a modicum of maturity and demonstrate commitment to the democratic ideals that underpin our nation’s fabric. We must remain mindful of the paramount importance of collaboration and cohesiveness in fostering the advancement and prosperity of our great nation.”
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