Tension as Supreme Court Delivers Judgment on Atiku, Obi’s Appeals Against Tinubu Today
The Supreme Court will today deliver judgment on the appeals brought by Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, challenging the affirmation of President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 presidential election.
Atiku is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while Obi is his counterpart in the Labour Party (LP).
The duo are challenging the September 6 judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), which upheld Tinubu’s election.
The Supreme Court’s notice of the judgment date and time was confirmed by the court’s Director of Press and Information, Dr. Awemeri Festus Akande.
Akande also said that adequate security arrangements have been put in place to prevent security breaches both within and outside the court premises on Thursday.
Both camps of Atiku, Obi, and Tinubu are optimistic of victory, and there is palpable tension.
A seven-member panel of the court, headed by Justice John Okoro, heard the appeals on Monday and reserved judgment.
Other members of the panel are Justices Uwani Abba-Aji, Justice Emmanuel Agim, Mohammed Garba, Ibrahim Saulawa, Adamu Jauro, and Tijani Abubakar.
Before hearing the main appeals, the court heard a motion by Atiku and the PDP to supply fresh evidence in support of their appeal.
Atiku’s lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), urged the court to sidestep technicalities and do justice because of the special circumstances thrown up by the suit.
Justice Okoro asked Uche whether the court should be guided by the Constitution and the Electoral Act or that it should act arbitrarily.
Uche said: “We have argued that this court is allowed under the Constitution and the Electoral Act and that it can still allow these documents.”
Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who led Tinubu’s legal team, faulted Uche’s submissions.
Olanipekun argued that as it stands, the deposition is a lifeless document on which the court cannot act.
