Tight Security as Presidential Tribunal Delivers Judgment in Abuja Today
The Court of Appeal Headquarters in Abuja is experiencing a significant security presence as the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) prepares to deliver its judgment on three petitions seeking to remove President Bola Tinubu from office.
Excel Magazine International reports that heavily armed security personnel from the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps (NSCDC) have been stationed at all entry points to the court.
Additionally, personnel from the Department of State Services (DSS) are meticulously verifying the identities of individuals entering the premises.
Earlier, the court had issued a warning that only accredited individuals would be permitted on its premises, and it directed its staff members to remain at home. However, it announced that it would allow a live broadcast of the judgment on the three petitions.
The five-member panel of the court, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, had given the green light for judgment on August 1, after all parties presented their final briefs of argument.
The petitions, identified as CA/PEPC/03/2023, CA/PEPC/05/2023, and CA/PEPC/04/2023, were filed by Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), respectively.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had previously declared President Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the presidential election held on February 25, with a total of 8,794,726 votes. Alhaji Atiku of the PDP came in second with 6,984,520 votes, while Mr. Obi of the LP placed third with 6,101,533 votes.
Dissatisfied with the election outcome, both Atiku and Obi approached the court, asserting their victory in the presidential poll and challenging Tinubu’s eligibility to contest.
The petitioners are not only requesting the court to declare that President Tinubu did not secure the majority of lawful votes but also seeking the withdrawal of his Certificate of Return issued by INEC.
Alternatively, they are asking the court to order a fresh presidential election, excluding President Tinubu, whom they argue was not qualified to participate from the beginning.
Under the Electoral Act 2022, candidates aggrieved by election results must file a petition within 21 days after INEC declares the result, and the court must deliver its written judgment within 180 days.
The court concluded its hearing of both Atiku and Obi’s petitions on July 5. Obi presented 13 witnesses and numerous documentary exhibits before closing his case, while Atiku produced 27 witnesses and exhibits.
In contrast, both INEC and President Tinubu concluded their defense with only one witness each, and the APC did not produce any witness before the court.
All the Respondents, in their written addresses, urged the court to dismiss the petitions for lacking merit. They argued that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations beyond a reasonable doubt, as required by the law.
President Tinubu urged the court to hold that he was validly returned as winner of the election, by the INEC.
