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Ahead of the highly anticipated judgment on the election petitions challenging President Bola Tinubu’s election, the Nigerian capital city of Abuja witnessed a substantial deployment of security personnel on Tuesday. The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, where the verdict is to be delivered, as well as other potential hotspots across the city, were heavily patrolled and fortified.
Supporters of the major contenders, including Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and President Bola Tinubu, awaited the outcome with great anticipation. Online, supporters engaged in heated exchanges, expressing optimism about the judgment favoring their respective candidates.
To maintain law and order, numerous armed riot policemen, personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and undercover security operatives were strategically positioned throughout the Federal Capital Territory. The heightened security measures aimed to prevent any potential disruptions or violence following the tribunal’s decision.
The tribunal’s chairman, Justice Haruna Tsammani, along with panel members Justices Stephen Adah, Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf, Moses Ugo, and Abba Mohammed, is responsible for delivering the judgment. The proceedings will take place at the Court of Appeal in the Three Arms zone of Abuja.
In a bid to enhance transparency and openness, the Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal headquarters, Umar Bangari, announced that the tribunal’s verdict would be broadcast live on television stations, allowing Nigerians to witness the proceedings.
The controversy surrounding the election arose after President Bola Tinubu, representing the All Progressives Congress, was declared the winner by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, on March 1. This declaration followed Tinubu’s victory with 8.8 million votes, surpassing Atiku’s 6.9 million and Peter Obi’s 6.1 million votes, as well as those of 15 other candidates.
Five of the 18 political parties that participated in the elections challenged the election’s outcome. Notably, the PDP and the LP, along with the Action Alliance, Action People’s Party, and the Allied Peoples Movement, contested the results.
To ensure public safety, security measures have been diligently implemented across Abuja, with thorough checks likely for lawyers and litigants entering the courtroom. Major roads leading to the Court of Appeal will be barricaded by the police before the proceedings commence.
The Nigerian police, under the leadership of Acting Inspector-General Olukayode Egbetokun, have been tasked with securing hotspots nationwide to prevent potential protests or violence in the event the judgment does not align with certain political interests.
In a statement, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumiyiwa Adejobi, cautioned against incendiary actions and statements, emphasizing the police’s commitment to maintaining peace and order while respecting citizens’ rights and freedoms.
The judgment, slated for Wednesday, September 6, 2023, has raised tensions in the country, with supporters of various candidates closely watching for the tribunal’s decision. Amidst the fervor, many Nigerians are hoping for a peaceful resolution that upholds the rule of law.
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