Nigeria’s political atmosphere is currently enveloped in a state of uncertainty, anxiety, and tension as the nation awaits the imminent judgment of the five Justices who presided over the petitions filed by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT). Their petitions challenge the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25 presidential election.
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The waiting game, which has been ongoing since the conclusion of arguments from all parties at the tribunal, is causing waves of anticipation among Nigerians both at home and abroad.
This dynamic scenario has oscillated between moments of heightened expectations and periods of deflation, resulting in an atmosphere where citizens are becoming increasingly restless due to the extended wait.
This collective sentiment has given rise to a notion that behind-the-scenes machinations might be influencing the impending ruling. As a response, a gentle revolution seems to be brewing, aimed at keeping the justices accountable and ensuring an unbiased decision.
Notably, hundreds of T-shirts and bags have been produced and are circulating widely. These items bear a clear message: “Presidential Election Tribunal: All eyes on the judiciary; judiciary save our democracy.” This movement signifies the populace’s determination for an impartial judicial process.
Presently, Nigerians hold high hopes that the judges’ verdict will be grounded in factual evidence and data presented before them, rather than relying on technicalities or other extraneous factors.
The Genesis
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner and president-elect on March 1, four days after the February 25 presidential election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, announced that Tinubu secured 8,794,726 votes, surpassing Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, who garnered 6,984,520 votes, and Peter Obi of the LP, who received 6,101,533 votes.
However, this declaration sparked controversy as many Nigerians perceived that INEC disregarded a crucial constitutional requirement, stipulating that a candidate must achieve 25 percent of the votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to become Nigeria’s president. As per INEC’s records, only the LP candidate met this requirement. Tinubu and Atiku did not. Nevertheless, INEC’s decision to declare Tinubu the winner remained unaffected, as he secured both the highest number of votes in the election and achieved 25 percent in over 24 states, surpassing the constitutional threshold.
However, this proclamation was met with dissent from the LP and PDP candidates, who contested that Tinubu’s victory was marred by irregularities. They argued that Tinubu’s win should be invalidated due to his failure to fulfill the 25 percent requirement in the FCT and claimed that the election was riddled with irregularities.
Legal Proceedings Commence
In response to their grievances, Peter Obi approached the PEPT on March 21, 2023, filing a petition to challenge Tinubu’s victory. Obi alleged irregularities ranging from rigging, manipulation of results, voter intimidation, and thuggery. He also contended that both Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, were ineligible to contest the election. Obi asserted that Tinubu did not attain the required percentage of votes in the FCT. His petition highlighted that the election was conducted with substantial non-compliance with legal provisions.
Obi’s petition additionally contended that Tinubu was unqualified to run due to a past criminal conviction and Shettima’s dual nominations for separate constituencies.
Atiku also filed a petition on the same day, asserting similar claims and presenting extensive evidence. He demanded either his declaration as the winner or the nullification of the election, followed by a rerun.
Response from Respondents
The respondents, which include INEC, the APC, Tinubu, and Shettima, presented their defense after the petitioners concluded their cases. The respondents’ legal teams countered the petitioners’ arguments, rejecting claims of irregularities and legal non-compliance.
The PEPT, under the leadership of Justice Haruna Tsammani, scheduled July 3 for the respondents to present their cases. During this phase, Tinubu, Shettima, and the APC presented several documents and testimonies to refute the petitioners’ claims.
Closing Arguments and Expectations
With the conclusion of the defense from all parties, the public awaits the final verdict of the tribunal. This anticipation has fueled discussions and debates across the nation, as citizens look to the justices to make a fair and unbiased decision based on the presented evidence.
As the nation collectively holds its breath, the outcome of this tribunal ruling has the potential to shape Nigeria’s political landscape and set a precedent for future elections.
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