Will President Tinubu be sacked today? Expectations as election tribunal commence proceedings for judgement
Comment
Amidst tension and anxiety, the question in the fore for Nigerians today is the fate of the nations’ president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu before the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, PEPT.
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The fates of Mr Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, who both contested the 2023 presidential elections under the aegis of the Labour Party, LP and People’s Democratic Party, PDP respectively, will also be decided as the court has commenced proceedings prior to final judgment today, Wednesday, 6 September, 2023.
Following the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as winner of the February 25, 2023 presidential election on March 1, both Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar amongst others have remained discontented by the outcome of the elections.
Both parties thus, resorted to legal measures in a bid to annul the declaration and “reclaim their stolen mandate” as they and their supporters have been repeatedly quoted.
In their respective petitions, both petitioners are challenging the validity of president Tinubu’s pronounced victory at the 2023 presidential polls by INEC on the basis of the electoral commissions’ failure to carry out electronic transmission of results from the polling units as it had promised prior to the elections.
Val9ja News had earlier reported that the petitioners are arguing that Tinubu failed to secure a majority of votes cast in the election and 25 percent of votes cast in the federal capital territory (FCT) which they argued is a constitutional requirement for a candidate to win the election.
Recall that according to INEC’s declaration on March 1 2023, Tinubu (APC) polled 8,794,726 votes representing 36.61% of the total votes cast at the election to emerge victorious while Atiku (PDP) who came second scored 6,984,520 representing 29.07% of the votes cast.
Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) was announced to have scored 6,101,533 representing 25.40% of the votes cast during the disputed election while Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP came fourth with 1,496,687 representing 6.40% of the votes cast.
The only female candidate in the election, Princess Chichi Ojei, was reported to have polled a lean 25,961 total votes, coming fifth on the row.
Meanwhile, the petitioners are also not convinced arguing that the APC vice-presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima, had a double nomination both as vice-president and as senatorial candidate for Borno Central.
Similarly, the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar had filed two separate law suits in the US challenging the validity of the president’s claim that he studied at the Chicago State University.
While Atiku’s suits in the US are not within the jurisdiction of the PEPT, he is praying the US court to force the institution to release the educational records of the president – a pray to which the president had also filed a law suit to stop the institution from publishing his details.
Anticipating the PEPTs judgement at the Court of Appeal Headquarters in Abuja today, Val9ja News had some interaction with Nigerians across the country which revealed the expectations of Nigerians from the tribunal.
Speaking to our correspondent in the middle belt, Terkaa looked beyond the perceived abnormalities that reportedly engulfed the 2023 presidential elections and dwelt on the president’s performance since assumption of office.
He believes that the president has performed well enough to retain him in power. He however, stated that previous cases as such have yielded no significant results therefore, he is not expecting much from the judiciary.
He said, “I really don’t have high expectations as regards this development from the presidential election petitions tribunal because this would not be the first time cases have been raised and also conceited as though nothing ever happened.
“I don’t think the current president would be taken out of his seat of power because in his few display or discharge of duties he has been able to prove his worth and delegated a very strong inner cacus cabinet that can not be intimidated, bribed or controlled by any external force.
“He has been able to bring out transformation in certain sectors, he has also been able to show equality in disseminating duties to the various arms and sectors of government.
“Well, we can just predict the future because anything can happen but I feel this is going to be a long case as I don’t see any change in power happening anytime soon.”
Claire, a student, seems to have lost confidence in the judiciary while expressing her conviction that Peter Obi of the LP was the actual winner of the 2023 polls.
She said, “The law is said to be equal but again all these theories are simply just theories, they don’t work for everything. Imagine Tinubu rigged before getting into power and someone will think the judiciary will rule against him? It won’t happen.
“A man that forced his way to the top before having the power of presidency will do more to save himself. we all know Obi won but it is what it is,” she said adding that,” she added.
On his part, Agbe Bemngu Samuel, a sales representative for a vegetable oil producing company, Hule and son’s Nigeria Limited says removing a sitting president is one of the most difficult things to ever happen in Nigeria.
According to him, the petitioners will have to accept the outcome at the end of the day and retreat to do their home work well.
“I don’t see the president being removed from power, because oga did his home work well and has confidence with himself. For Atiku and Obi, I can’t say what their fates will be, but they have to accept the outcome by the end of the day, then go back do their homework and come back well.” Bemgu said.
Similarly, Isaac Ochai, a 400 level communications student at the Benue State University, Makurdi says he is expecting no shockers from the judiciary adding that petitions at the electoral tribunal are only a drawback for Nigeria.
He said, “Even though there is tension everywhere, I am expecting no shockers. I believe that the tribunal verdict will still retain the Tinubu administration. I don’t see him being removed.
“The petitioners will be convinced to accept the outcome of the general election with legal justification this time. I say so because, it is expected of the judiciaries to rather focus on the way forward not the way backward for Nigeria. I see this petition thing as a drawback for Nigeria. The election season is over a long time ago. It is also out of place for just two contestants out of multiple contestants claiming electoral righteousness.”
The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel who will be delivering judgment at the PEPT today includes chief Registrar of the court of Appeal, Justice Stephen Adah, Court of Appeal, Asaba division, Justice Monsurat Bolaji Yusuf, court of Appeal Asaba division, Justice Moses Ugo, Kano division and Justice Abah Mohammed, Ibadan court of Appeal.
The five jurists will deliberate and possibly vote to take a final decision in case there are disagreements on issues thrown up at the trial.
The decision is however not final as a displeased party can still appeal to the Supreme Court.
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