The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to tender an unreserved apology to the suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen and reinstate him without further delay.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the party stated this in a communiqué issued on Tuesday after its meeting held in Abuja where it also vowed to support the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in his quest to reclaim his mandate.

The party faulted the conduct of the 2019 general elections in the country, alleging that its members who participated in the exercise were robbed through the combined efforts of state institutions.

The communiqué which was signed by the ADC Chairman, Ralph Nwosu , the Secretary, Alhaji Said Abdullahi and read by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Yemi Kolapo said Onnoghen’s continued torture by the Federal Government debases Nigeria.

“The only way the democratic electoral process can be strengthened to continue to serve as a role model at this stage of Nigeria’s nation building is for the judiciary to continue to play its constitutional role strongly without fear or favour in order to stop the excesses of politicians and save the country.

“We therefore call on the learned men of the third arm to act to restore power to the people in our democracy. It is in the best interest of every Nigerian that we do not knowingly bring about the obituary of our democracy.

“Finally, we call on President Muhammadu Buhari to tender an unreserved apology to Justice Walter Onnoghen and restore him to his position with immediate effect. Any further progression of the torture of this Supreme Court chief debases Nigeria.

“The government in power promoted violence and used the police, military, intelligence agencies and thugs to terrorize innocent citizens and pollute the electoral space.

“There was heavy commercialization of the process, which involved vote-buying, inducement of electoral officers and ad hoc staff and other forms of electoral corruption by the incumbent federal and state members of the executive arm of government.

“The cause of democracy was thwarted and the people were denied the right to exercise their mandate. The Nigerian public and international observers are witnesses to the desperation of the Presidency and state governors and corruption of the entire process.

“As a political party, we abhor fraudulent electoral practices. That is why we were the only party that set up an organization to address such vices,” the communiqué read.