The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says there are growing worries that the election petition tribunals have yet to commence hearing of disputed polls as it plans to create a “hall of shame” for questionable judges.

NLC president Joe Ajaero, at a news conference organised by the Labour and Civil Society Movement Front on Sunday, accused the judiciary of “setting many states on fire” due to its verdicts.

“The judiciary has set many states and institutions on fire,” said Mr Ajaero. “The judiciary has set Imo state on fire, and until now, people are wondering how a person who was not a candidate of his party be declared the governor.”

He cautioned the tribunals against compromise in the 2023 elections litigation, threatening that organised labour and civil society movements might establish a “hall of shame” for any judge jeopardising the process.

“The judiciary has so many questions to answer. If they failed to answer those questions within a short time, we would create a hall of shame for those judges that come up with some judgments and that could happen soon,“ Mr Ajaero said.

The NLC president said there was a need for the Nigerian Bar Association and others in the judiciary to speak out regarding the malaise bedevilling that arm of government, stressing that Nigerians would want to know if the judiciary is still the last hope of the masses.

Mr Ajaero said the declaration “go to court“ was shameful.

“When people tell you to go to court, they are telling you that that’s the end of the matter,“ the NLC leader noted.

He said all hands must be on deck to rescue the judiciary.

(NAN)