By Milcah Tanimu
The Court of Appeal Headquarters in Abuja is under heavy security as the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) prepares to deliver judgments on three petitions seeking to remove President Bola Tinubu from office. Heavily armed security personnel from the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps are stationed at all entry points to the court, with the Department of State Services (DSS) verifying the identities of everyone entering the premises.
The court had issued a warning that only accredited individuals would be allowed into the premises, directing its staff members to stay at home. However, it stated that it would permit a live broadcast of the judgments on the three petitions.
The five-member panel of the court, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, approved the cases for judgment on August 1, after all parties adopted their final briefs of argument.
The petitions were filed by Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). They challenge the victory of President Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 presidential election, alleging irregularities and contesting Tinubu’s eligibility to run for office.
In their petitions, both Atiku and Obi claim they won the presidential poll and are seeking the court to invalidate the election results. They also seek the withdrawal of Tinubu’s Certificate of Return issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or a fresh presidential election without Tinubu’s participation.
The Electoral Act 2022 requires candidates aggrieved by election outcomes to file petitions within 21 days of INEC’s declaration of results. The court is expected to deliver its judgment in writing within 180 days.
Both INEC and President Tinubu’s defense argued that the petitioners failed to prove their allegations beyond reasonable doubt, and therefore, the petitions should be dismissed for lack of merit.