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“Prior to the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal’s judgment in Abuja on Wednesday, the military and police have issued warnings against any unlawful activities by troublemakers. Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, cautioned potential instigators of violence to abandon such intentions.

The tribunal, in an announcement on Monday, revealed its plan to deliver a verdict on the petitions challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Bola Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 presidential election. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had declared Tinubu the president-elect on March 1, citing his party’s majority vote.

The tribunal justices tasked with delivering the verdict on Wednesday include Justice Haruna Tsammani (Chairman), Justice Stephen Adah of the Court of Appeal (Asaba Division), Justice Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf of the Court of Appeal (Asaba Division), Justices Moses Ugo (Court of Appeal, Kano), and Abba Mohammed from the Ibadan Division of the Court of Appeal.

In the 2023 election, the former Lagos State governor secured 8.8 million votes, defeating the Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar with 6.9 million votes, as well as Labour Party candidate Peter Obi, who received 6.1 million votes, along with 15 other candidates.

However, five of the 18 political parties that participated in the election turned to the court to challenge the electoral body’s declaration.”

“At the forefront of challenging Tinubu’s electoral victory are Atiku and Obi, who have petitioned the tribunal to invalidate the former Lagos governor’s win in the February 25 presidential election.

Apart from the PDP and the LP, other disgruntled parties include the Action Alliance, Action People’s Party, and the Allied Peoples Movement.

During the tribunal proceedings, the five-member panel, led by Justice Tsammani, dismissed the petitions of the AA and the APP. This followed the formal withdrawal of these petitions by the respective parties.

In his 66-page petition, Atiku requested the court to annul the election and call for a fresh poll due to alleged irregularities in thousands of polling units. In a joint petition with the PDP, he sought the revocation of the certificate of return issued to Tinubu by INEC, arguing that Tinubu’s victory was invalid due to non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022. Atiku also claimed that Tinubu’s election was tainted by corrupt practices and urged the court to nullify it, declaring himself the rightful winner, having secured the second-highest number of valid votes.

He asserted that the APC candidate did not meet the constitutional requirements and was “constitutionally disqualified from running for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

In response, Tinubu, through his legal team led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, challenged the legal validity of the petition, characterizing Atiku as a consistent serial loser who had switched between different political parties in pursuit of power since 1993.

Obi, in his petition, argued that the election was marred by irregularities and questioned the eligibility of Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, to contest the election. He also alleged that Tinubu failed to secure a majority of lawful votes and one-quarter of lawful votes in the Federal Capital Territory. Obi contended that the election substantially violated legal provisions.

On August 1, the panel reserved its judgment after the PDP, the LP, and the APM had presented their final written arguments.”

Live telecast
“However, in a statement issued on Monday, Umar Bangari, the Chief Registrar at the Court of Appeal headquarters, announced that the tribunal’s verdict would be broadcast live on television networks. This decision was made to enhance transparency and openness, allowing Nigerians to observe the proceedings.

The statement conveyed, ‘The Court of Appeal wishes to inform the general public that judgments in the following petitions pending before the Presidential Election Petition Court will be delivered on Wednesday, September 6, 2023: CA/PEPC/03/2023 involving Mr. Peter Gregory Obi & Anor vs. Independent National Electoral Commission & 3 Ors; CA/PEPC/04/2023 involving Allied Peoples Movement vs. Independent National Electoral Commission & 4 Ors; CA/PEPC/05/2023 involving Abubakar Atiku & Anor vs. Independent National Electoral Commission & 2 Ors.

‘In an effort to promote transparency and openness, these judgments will be broadcast live by interested television stations for the public’s benefit.’

Furthermore, Bangari emphasized that only accredited individuals, including legal counsel and political party representatives, would be permitted to enter the courtroom on the day of judgment.

‘Access to the court premises will be strictly controlled through accreditation. Only accredited individuals, which includes legal representatives and political party delegates, will have access to the courtroom. Interested members of the public are encouraged to watch the proceedings from their television sets. We kindly request the full cooperation of the general public to ensure a smooth and trouble-free process,’ the statement concluded.”

Regarding the security preparations to prevent any potential disruptions on the day of the judgment, Gusau clarified that the Guards Brigade, Army Headquarters Garrison, and other security agencies would not stand idly by if troublemakers tried to incite unrest.

In response to inquiries from The PUNCH about the security measures to ensure public safety on or before the judgment day, Gusau commented, “We have been actively maintaining peace and security in collaboration with other security agencies nationwide. In Abuja, we have the Guards Brigade and the Army Headquarters Garrison working together with other security agencies to provide security in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).”

He continued, “We will continue to carry out our responsibilities, and if anyone attempts to cause chaos, we cannot simply watch. We must perform our duties. On the day of the judgment, we will maintain our usual vigilance alongside other security agencies. We cannot be performing our duties and ignore someone attempting to provoke chaos. So, why are we patrolling?”

Meanwhile, police authorities have heightened security measures across several states in preparation for Wednesday’s judgment. The Osun State Police Command assured that adequate security measures were in place to safeguard lives and property.

Yemisi Opalola, the command’s spokesperson, stated, “There won’t be any crisis in any part of the state as we have provided adequate security measures. We don’t have any fears, but we are prepared, and we will ensure the protection of lives and property before, during, and after the judgment.”

The command emphasized that its personnel were on alert to manage any protests or demonstrations that may have been planned by troublemakers if the judgment did not meet their expectations.

Although Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, appeared peaceful on Monday evening with no noticeable security presence, the state’s police command spokesperson, Ajayi Okasanmi, assured that the force was ready to maintain peace and security in the state.

“We urge politicians and various political groups in the state to take responsibility for their members’ actions. No form of protest or demonstration will be tolerated within the state. Political leaders should call upon their supporters and caution them against organizing any protests in the state at this time.

Gombe State Police Command has also issued a warning to potential troublemakers in response to the impending judgment on the presidential election petitions. Mahid Abubakar, the Police Public Relations Officer, affirmed the readiness of the command to handle any unforeseen incidents, emphasizing that anyone or group planning to disrupt the peace in the state would face legal consequences.

Abubakar stated, “Any individual or group of persons intending to cause trouble should stay away from the state, or they will be arrested and face legal consequences. The Commissioner of Police, Oqua Etim, has directed the implementation of adequate security measures to prevent any untoward incidents before, during, and after the judgment.”

Regarding their expectations for the judgment, the PDP expressed confidence in the judicial process. The party did not want to preempt the ruling of the justices, as they had presented their case to the election tribunal with substantial evidence concerning the February 25 election.

Debo Ologunagba, the party’s spokesperson, stated, “As a party, we won’t speculate about the decisions of the learned justices. We approached the panel with facts and evidence to challenge the election outcome. Our case was supported by evidence because elections are governed by rules, laws, and due process.”

He continued, “The justices will now examine the evidence before them and make their ruling. We remain optimistic that this evidence will determine the outcome of this matter, and we are hopeful of a favorable outcome. This matter extends beyond the PDP and Atiku; it is of great interest to Nigerians and the international community, who are eagerly awaiting the conclusion of this process.”

“The interest shown in this petition by Nigerians is enough for everyone to be hopeful. The PDP is only amplifying the voices of the people. So, there is no need for us to think that the ruling will go against us because we are confident of victory,” he concluded.
LP on appeal

On its part, Labour Party leadership vowed to head for the Supreme Court if it has any reason to doubt the judgment.

This was disclosed by the National Legal Adviser of LP, Kehinde Edun, in a telephone chat on Monday.

While expressing confidence ahead of the judgment, Edun told The PUNCH he had no doubt that the LP would triumph “given all the evidence on the ground.’’

When asked if the party leadership would protest if the ruling did not go their way, the national legal adviser dismissed the notion, saying the LP would rather explore the option of the apex court.

Edun stated, “No, there is no reason for protest. We still have an option. Of course, the tribunal is not the final court. It is just the court of first instance for the presidential election. The court of appeal is the court of first instance.

“We still have an option to head for the Supreme Court. What is the reason to protest after the judgment on Wednesday? If we find a reason to appeal further, we will do it. The issue of protest does not arise now at all. If you are dissatisfied, you can still go upstairs. But we don’t think that will even happen. We are going to get the victory.
“But if it doesn’t go our way, we can now consider the reason for the outcome. When we look at the reason and feel dissatisfied, we will go to the Supreme Court.”

The Director of Publicity for the APC, Bala Ibrahim, was enthusiastic about the ruling party’s chances of securing a favourable judgment.

In the case that the judgment was unfavourable, he said the party would abide by the rule of law.

Ibrahim stated, “As the ruling party and a progressive one, we certainly have more confidence in the court than the cutlass anybody may want to brandish.

In a related development, the Court of Appeal, Abuja, has directed its staff to stay at home on Wednesday, the day fixed for the tribunal judgment.

A worker told our correspondent that only a few accredited staff would be allowed inside the courtroom.

He said, “We were told today that we should not come to work on Wednesday and that only those with tags would be allowed into the court premises on that day. They said it was for our own good. I learnt they would give those people that will come to work on Wednesday tags. If that is done, only a few people will come to work. “

The Chief Registrar, Bangari, described the matter as an internal administrative issue.

“This is an internal administrative matter. If the staff were asked not to come to work on a day like that, it is strictly an internal affair. That is not important. In any case, NLC has declared a strike.”

The Treasurer for the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Musa Alonge, said the union, as an affiliate of the Nigeria Labour Congress, would abide by its decisions.

He said, “We are an affiliate of NLC, and apart from that we have our own issues which we will also be giving them (the court authorities) a 21-day ultimatum. We are revisiting our issues on remuneration, we are on course.”

Tinubu confident’

In a related development, Ajuri Ngelale the spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, on Monday said his principal was not worried about possible outcomes of the judgment of the presidential election tribunal.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television on Monday, Ngelale said Tinubu saw no need to threaten judicial officers regarding the election petition.
The presidential spokesperson said Tinubu was optimistic that the panel would deliver judgment based on the evidence presented.

He said the president has “confidence and faith” in the judiciary, adding that Tinubu is sure that his mandate would be affirmed.

“Unlike some political gladiators in the country, the president sees no need to threaten judicial officers,” he said.