The Court of Appeal Headquarters in Abuja is brimming with a robust security presence as the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) readies itself to pronounce judgment on three petitions seeking to unseat President Bola Tinubu from office.
Security personnel, armed to the teeth and representing the Nigeria Army, Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and the Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps (NSCDC), have been strategically positioned at all entrances to the court. Meanwhile, armed with extensive lists, the Department of State Services (DSS) personnel meticulously verify the identities of all individuals entering the premises.
The court has warned that only accredited individuals will be granted access, even instructing its staff to remain home. However, it has announced its intention to allow a live broadcast of the judgment on the three petitions.
The five-member panel, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, had given the green light for judgment on August 1 after all parties had presented their final briefs of argument.
The three 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 and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), respectively.
On March 1, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared President Tinubu, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the presidential election held on February 25. He secured a total of 8,794,726 votes, defeating his two major rivals - Alhaji Atiku of the PDP, who came in second with 6,984,520 votes, and Mr Obi of the LP, who placed third with 6,101,533 votes.
Dissatisfied with the election outcome, Atiku and Obi approached the court to challenge the validity of the election results. In their separate petitions, they claimed victory in the presidential poll and contested President Tinubu's eligibility to contest the election. Additionally, they are seeking the withdrawal of the Certificate of Return issued to him by INEC.
