Presidential election: Nigerians open viewing centres, anticipate Tribunal judgement

By Moses Adeniyi

As the judges prepare to deliver judgements regarding the February Presidential elections, Nigerians have undertaken to create viewing centres to watch the judgement of the Presidential Election Tribunal.

Recall that Presidential candidates Peter Obi (Labour Party) and Atiku Abubakar of the )(Peoples Democratic Party) challenged the victory of President Tinubu and have for the past four months been trying to convince a panel of five judges to upturn Tinubu’s electoral victory.

Both Obi and Atiku are challenging Tinubu’s victory based on the credibility of the poll as well as his qualification. They want the court to disqualify the president and/or declare a rerun.

Tension has however heightened over the awaited judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) set to be delivered today, Wednesday, amidst ongoing nationwide strike of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) which on Tuesday grounded activities in several States of the Federation.

Meanwhile, speculated inducements to influence the verdict of the PEPC have raised tension in the political space.

Recall there has been recent outcry over fear that the Presidency and the ruling All Progressives Congress may be at the brink of influencing the judgement of the tribunal court in its favour.

The Labour Party on Tuesday  expressed worry over what it described as a preemptive pronouncement by retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Mary Odili, about the PEPC judgement to be delivered today.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Obiora Ifoh, in a statement, on Tuesday said that the party found it necessary to draw public attention to unfolding developments in the Country ahead of judgement of the PEPC.

“The unguarded statement from the former Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Justice Mary Odili, in Abuja, last week at a colloquium to mark the 25th anniversary of the elevation of a renowned jurist, JK Gadzama to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN.

“And the boasting of some persons, serving Ministers and notable legislators about the outcome has left our party in shock.

“When those who should know the importance of the sanctity of the judiciary descend to the arena of abusing it with their preemptive utterances just to show loyalty and support to their interests, we as a party see this as unfortunate and dangerous to our democratic journey as a nation.

“We note also the needless lavish showering of praises on the legal counsels of both APC and Candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu by the retired Justice when the gathering was not theirs.

“We find this extremely undignified of a renowned jurist who rose to the peak of her career in the country’s Apex court and who as the  Chairperson of the body of benchers, should be at the forefront of defending the virtuousness of the courts.

“Also curious to every discerning mind watching the unfolding events in Nigeria since the February 25th Presidential election is the fact that the PEPC that refused live television coverage of the hearings of the petition, and is now anxious to have the conclusion beamed live.”

“What is it that has happened between the hearing period and the delivery of the judgment that the live coverage which they claimed was a policy issue changed suddenly at the delivery point?

“We are aware of the efforts of the agents of the States to orchestrate problems and blame them on the political opposition.

“We wish to emphasise that it is the right of the people in a democracy to demonstrate and the obligation of state security agents to protect the demonstrators and those not demonstrating.

“We implore Nigerians to remain calm and peaceful, abide by the rule of law, and understand that this matter has not reached its logical and final conclusion.

“Our concern as a critical stakeholder in Nigeria’s project especially the democratic evolution is that what is being destroyed with all these clever by half playing on people’s intelligence is Nigeria as a nation not necessarily an individual.

“Anybody who loves this country should appreciate the importance of due process and the rule of law because, without it, this country is going nowhere,” the party said.