In anticipation of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Judgment scheduled for today (Wednesday), Nigerians, especially supporters of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), have been urged to reject violence and maintain calm.
There have been speculations that supporters of the LP and PDP are planning protests if the verdict favors the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Both the LP’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the PDP’s Atiku Abubakar rejected the election results, citing alleged irregularities as the reason.
Contrary to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) declaration of President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the election, Obi and Atiku took their case to the tribunal, seeking to nullify Tinubu’s victory.
They argued that Tinubu did not secure a majority of lawful votes, especially since collation was still ongoing when the INEC chairman declared him the winner, with many results yet to be uploaded onto INEC’s Results Viewing (IReV) Portals.
Obi is also contesting Tinubu’s victory on the grounds that the ruling party failed to secure 25 percent of the votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
A month after concluding the hearing on these petitions, the five-member panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, is set to deliver its judgment.
This televised event has heightened tension across the country, with varying reactions from Nigerians, including the petitioners.
While President Tinubu’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, claims that the President is not worried about the tribunal’s possible verdict, some Nigerians are feeling apprehensive. The Department of State Services (DSS) has also issued warnings about potential violent protests.
However, some stakeholders are calling for calm, emphasizing that Nigerians should be prepared to accept the judgment in good faith. They remind the public that this tribunal decision is not final and can be subject to appeal.
In various statements, they appeal for peace and maturity, regardless of the judgment’s outcome, and remind everyone that the Supreme Court will ultimately have the final say. The key message is to maintain a commitment to the rule of law and a peaceful democratic process.