The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) is set to deliver its judgment on the February 25 election, causing palpable anxiety in Nigeria, particularly the Federal Capital Territory. The PDP, Atiku Abubakar, the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) are seeking to nullify President Bola Tinubu’s election. The PDP, Atiku Abubakar, the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and the APM are challenging both the declaration of Tinubu as president and the credibility of the election conduct.
Investigations conducted across the country have shown that security surveillance has been stepped up, with a level 4 security alert in Abuja. The Police have confirmed that they have fortified security nationwide to ensure safety before, during, and after the judgement. They have warned mischief-makers and political gladiators against misinformation and unguarded utterances, urging the public to be cautious in their actions and statements.
The PDP embarked on fasting and prayer sessions for a “favourable judgment,” with former Adamawa governor Boni Haruna believing God would make it possible for the PDP to recover its “mandate” through the tribunal. Harauna took his message from the book of 1 Samuel 30: 1-8, noting that just as God made David recover all he lost during the war with the Amalekites, the PDP will also recover what it has lost in the last presidential election.
The PDP Director of Publicity and coordinator of PDP Christian Religion Body 2023, Chinwe Nnorom, said that it was not a coincidence that the prayer and fasting of the party, which started long before now, was climaxing on the eve of the judgment. They have been seeking the face of God for a favourable judgment at the tribunal.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has raised the alarm about the unfolding developments ahead of the judgment, citing the “unguarded statement” from former Justice Mary Odili in Abuja last week at a colloquium to mark the 25th anniversary of the elevation of a renowned jurist, JK Gadzama to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). The party has called for Nigerians to remain calm, peaceful, and abide by the rule of law.
The PDP has urged its supporters to understand that the matter had not reached its logical and final conclusion, stating that what is being destroyed with all this cleverness by half playing on people’s intelligence is Nigeria as a nation, not necessarily an individual. Anybody who loves this country should appreciate the importance of due process and the rule of law because, without it, this country is going nowhere.