Presidential Election: PEPC Slates Sept 6 To Decide Tinubu, Atiku, Obi’s fate

The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), sitting at the Court of Appeal in Abuja has announced Wednesday, September 6, 2023 date to deliver judgment in the petitions filed by the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku challenging the declaration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu had, on March 1, declared Tinubu as the winner of the presidential election, having scored the highest votes cast in the election.

Peter Obi and his party, the Labour Party, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are, in their various petitions seeking the nullification of Tinubu’s election on the grounds of substantial non-compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and INEC’s guidelines for the conduct of the presidential election, as well as double nomination of Vice President Kashim Shettima.

They also argued that Tinubu was not qualified to contest the said election and that his declaration and return as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was illegal, null and void.

Five political parties had earlier filed petitions against Tinubu’s election, but, the Action Alliance (AA) and the Action Peoples Party (APP) withdrew their petitions, leaving the petitions by Obi, Atiku, their political parties and the APM, which the court consolidated to deliver judgment on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

The Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Umar Mohammed Bangari, who confirmed the date in a press statement on Monday, said the judgement will be televised live by interested television stations for the public to follow so as to promote transparency and openness at no cost to the Court.

Bangari said, access to the court premises will be strictly on accreditation and that, only accredited individuals, including counsel and representatives of political parties will be granted access to the courtroom. 

While appealing for the maximum cooperation of the general public to ensure a hitch-free exercise, the Court of Appeal Chief Registrar advised interested members of the public to watch proceedings from their television sets.