In a tightly secured enclave within the Three Arms Zone, along Shehu Shagari Way, nestled within the Central Business District of Abuja, the Court of Appeal Complex is abuzz with anticipation as the Presidential Election Petition Court readies itself to deliver its verdict.
The judgment pertains to three pivotal cases contesting the outcome of the presidential election held on February 25th. The timing of this pronouncement is of significant import, occurring approximately a month after the court concluded its hearings on the closing arguments presented by the parties involved and just about two weeks shy of the expiration of the statutory 180-day period, during which cases filed back in March must be resolved.
This high-stakes proceeding is under the vigilant stewardship of a five-member panel led by the esteemed Haruna Tsammani, which had earlier reserved its judgments on the contentious petitions after the culmination of the closing arguments in early August.
The vicinity surrounding the Court of Appeal Complex now finds itself fortified by an array of security personnel hailing from diverse branches, encompassing the armed forces, the police, the Department of State Service (DSS), and the Civil Defence. The same formidable security contingent is also stationed within the court complex itself.
Mr. Umar Bangari, the Chief Registrar of the Court, issued a statement on Monday assuring that comprehensive arrangements had been meticulously executed to ensure that the judgments for the three petitions awaiting resolution would be delivered seamlessly. Bangari outlined that stringent security measures had been instituted, allowing entry only to invited members of political parties and the general public, with the dual purpose of preventing overcrowding and forestalling security breaches. Furthermore, media outlets keen on broadcasting the verdict live were granted permission to do so, without incurring any expense borne by the court.
NAN’s on-ground reporting as of 7:30 a.m. documented the thorough scrutiny of lawyers and journalists by security personnel. The extensive security presence extended beyond the Court of Appeal Complex, encompassing major government edifices such as the Federal Secretariat, the National Assembly Complex, and access points to the Presidential Villa.
The petitions before the court were separately submitted by Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), collectively challenging President Tinubu’s victory.
Notably, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had previously declared President Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the victor, amassing 8.8 million votes in a contest characterized as a three-horse race, triumphing over 17 other contenders. Atiku secured the second position with a total of 6,984,520 votes, while Obi trailed Atiku, garnering 6,101,533 votes, as per INEC’s official records.
