“Security Alert: Ahead of Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Verdict, Military and Police Vow Zero Tolerance for Trouble”
In anticipation of the impending judgment from the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja, the military and police have issued stern warnings against any unlawful activities by troublemakers.
Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, the Director of Defence Information, delivered a clear message to potential troublemakers, urging them to abandon any plans for violence.
The tribunal is set to announce its decision on the petitions challenging the declaration of Bola Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, declared Tinubu as the president-elect on March 1, citing his party’s majority vote in the poll.
The tribunal justices responsible for delivering the verdict include Chairman Justice Haruna Tsammani, Justice Stephen Adah of the Court of Appeal (Asaba Division), Justice Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf of the Court of Appeal (Asaba Division), Justices Moses Ugo of the Court of Appeal (Kano), and Abba Mohammed of the Ibadan Division of the Court of Appeal.
Tinubu secured victory in the 2023 election with 8.8 million votes, defeating Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and 15 other candidates.
However, five out of the 18 participating political parties contested the election’s outcome in court. Atiku and Obi led the charge, seeking to nullify Tinubu’s electoral win, citing irregularities at numerous polling units.
During the tribunal proceedings, the AA and APP withdrew their petitions, resulting in their dismissal by the panel.
Atiku, in a 66-page petition, called for the cancellation of the election, citing widespread irregularities. He also sought to withdraw Tinubu’s certificate of return, claiming that Tinubu’s election was invalid due to non-compliance with the Electoral Act of 2022. Atiku argued that Tinubu’s election was marred by corrupt practices and should be nullified, with him declared the rightful winner.
Obi, in his petition, alleged election irregularities and questioned Tinubu and his running mate Kashim Shettima’s qualifications to contest the election. He also claimed that Tinubu failed to secure a majority of lawful votes and one-quarter of lawful votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory. Obi asserted that the election was substantially non-compliant with the law.
The tribunal panel reserved judgment on August 1 after the PDP, LP, and APM had presented their final written arguments.
To ensure transparency and openness, the tribunal verdict will be televised live on various television stations, allowing the public to follow the proceedings. Only accredited individuals, including counsel and representatives of political parties, will have access to the courtroom on the judgment day.
Security preparations are also in place to maintain peace and security on the judgment day. The military and police have warned potential troublemakers to stay away, emphasizing their commitment to maintaining order and ensuring the safety of all citizens.
While the various parties await the tribunal’s decision, they express their confidence in the judicial process and affirm their readiness to accept the outcome, even if it necessitates further legal action.
In the midst of this, President Bola Tinubu remains confident that the panel will make its judgment based on the evidence presented and sees no need to threaten judicial officers. He maintains his faith in the judiciary and believes his mandate will be upheld.