Title: Controversy Surrounds Appearance of Watermark on Presidential Elections Petition Tribunal Judgment
In the aftermath of the release of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Presidential Elections Petition Tribunal’s judgment affirming the election of Bola Tinubu as President, a contentious issue has arisen regarding the watermark of the legal team of the President appearing on the CTC. The camp of the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has voiced concerns about this matter.
In a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Public Communications to the former Vice President, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, the camp has called on the Presidential Elections Petition Tribunal (PEPT) to address the controversy in the best interests of the Nigerian public.
The statement argues that the delay in providing Atiku Abubakar and his legal team with the CTC of the judgment was unjustified. Additionally, it questions why copies of the judgment feature the header of the Tinubu Presidential Legal Team, while the copies provided to the petitioners did not.
The statement goes on to make several key points:
Special Privileges: It raises questions about whether the Tinubu legal team received special privileges from the PEPT, considering that they obtained the CTC of the judgment before the plaintiffs did.
Urgency for the Petitioners: The statement highlights the urgency for the petitioners to receive the judgment, given their need to file an appeal with the Supreme Court within a specific timeframe.
Language Used in the Judgment: The camp of Atiku and the PDP expresses concerns about the language used in the judgment, describing it as vexatious and denigrating.
Suspicion of External Factors: The statement suggests suspicions of external factors that may have influenced the formulation of the judgment, calling for transparency in the process.
Last-Ditch Effort: It emphasizes that the legal challenge is not just about Atiku but is a last-ditch effort to safeguard democracy in Nigeria and ensure that the judiciary remains a reliable institution.
In conclusion, the statement calls on the PEPT to provide clear explanations for the issues raised and to address the concerns surrounding the judgment. It underscores the significance of this legal challenge as it moves to the Supreme Court and its potential impact on the reputation of the Nigerian judiciary.