Tinubu had no phone call with CJN Ariwoola, says APC

President Bola Tinubu did not have a telephone conversation with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola regarding the possible outcome of his case at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

This is according to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) amid some reports suggesting that a phone conversation ensued over the duo.

A Twitter user had alleged that the CJN had through a telephone conversation advised President Tinubu and the APC to get ready for a rerun of the 2023 presidential election.

But reacting in a statement on Tuesday, the APC spokesman, Felix Morka said the Twitter user fabricated a falsehood on a matter of serious national importance that is actively under review by the tribunal.

Morka stated that President Tinubu and the APC won the February 25 presidential election without a doubt, and do not have any need to engage in side conversations with the CJN regarding pending petitions before the PEPC.

“We have become aware of a decidedly mischievous and intentionally misleading tweet by one Mr Jackson Ude. He alleged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was in a telephone conversation with the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, in which the CJN purportedly told the President and APC to prepare for a presidential election rerun,” the statement read.

“President Tinubu and our Party won the last Presidential election without a doubt, and do not have any need to engage in side conversations with the CJN regarding pending petitions before the PEPC. As the core democrat that he is, the President respects the right of aggrieved Candidates in the election to seek redress for any grievances that they may have. The Constitution and Electoral Act provide effective guarantees of that right.

“The PEPC should be afforded the time and space to perform its important constitutional and statutory duty of adjudicating and delivering a verdict in the matter without needlessly calling the integrity of our Judges into question.

“Falsehood and conjecture by the likes of Mr. Ude only aim to inflame political passions, create doubt and panic, and preemptively undermine the verdict of the Courts in this important matter.

“We are confident that Nigerians are smarter and more discerning than to be affected by this opposition brand of tasteless and crass mercenary expedition.”