Arrangements have been concluded by the Presidential Election Petition Court PEPC sitting in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital for the much expected judgment on election petitions by Presidential candidates of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Abubakar Atiku and his counterpart of the Labour Party, Peter Obi as well as that of Allied People Movement APM.
The three petitioner are challenging the election and declaration of President Bola Tinubu by the country’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC in the February 25 Presidential elections.
A visit by Voice of Nigeria to the Appeal Court, venue of the Presidential Tribunal on Tuesday indicates that, security have been beefed up as police were seen placed in strategic positions within and out side the court premises.
Officials of some television stations in the country such as Nigerian Television Authority NTA, Channels Television, Africa Independent Television AIT and ARISE TV were seen stationing their Outside Broadcast equipment OB vans as well as placing their cables for the live coverage of the judgment.
The court hall was cleaned up and fully air conditioned ready for much desired election petition judgment.
The court had in a press statement said, “Live telecast by interested television stations to be allowed at no cost to the Court.”
It added that, there will be restrictions around the Court premises for security reasons, security breaches, on Wednesday September 6th.
Recalled that both Presidential candidates of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Abubakar Atiku and his counterpart of the Labour Party Peter Obi who are the major contenders in the petition, closed their cases on June.
Abubakar closed his case after calling 27 out of the 100 witnesses and tendering electoral documents while Obi called 13 witnesses.
Both petitioners have alledged electoral irregularities during the Presidential Elections and want the Tribunal to nullify the election.
Confidence Okwuchi
