By KEMI KASUMU
The Court of Appeal Headquarters in Abuja has issued a press statement that finally clears the air on conflicting reports regarding the date of judgment on the petitions challenging the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The appellate court, in the statement signed by its Chief Registrar Umar M. Bangari Esq and dated 04/09/2023, confirmed on Monday that Wednesday September 6, 2023 is the date fixed for the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) to deliver its judgments on the three listed cases.
Earlier Monday report said the date for the judgment was hit by conflicting reports, where Channels Television cited Court of Appeal’s registrar as its source, THE WHISTLER cited secretary to the Tribunal in its report that “no date has been picked”.
But, in a circular sent obtained in Abuja by The DEFENDER, later same day, the higher court confirmed September 6 as the date.
Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) secured 8,794,726 votes to defeat Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who got 6,984,520, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) who polled 6,101,533 votes.
Five political parties including the PDP, LP, Action Peoples Party (APP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and the Action Alliance (AA), who were not satisfied with the outcome of the election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), approached the tribunal where they lodged their separate petitions before, seeking to annul the Tinubu’s victory.
The petitioners are in court with prayers that Tinubu failed to secure 25 percent of votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and, for that reason, should not have been declared winner of the February 25 election.
On August 1, a five-member panel of the tribunal reserved judgment after hearing the final written addresses from counsels to Atiku and Obi.
The Court of Appeal’s statement on Monday, titled, “PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PETITION JUDGMENTS TO BE DELIVERED ON WEDNESSDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER, 2023 AND TELEVISED LIVE”, members of the public were advised to watch the proceedings on television sets at their various locations as the court makes effort to ensure transparency.
It said, “The court of appeal wishes to inform the general public that judgment in the following petitions before the Presidential Election Petition Court will be delivered on Wednesday, 6th September, 2023:
“*CA/PEPC/03/2023 between Mr. Peter Gregory Obi & Anor VS Independent National Electoral Commission & 3 Ors.
“*CA/PEPC/04/2023 between Allied People’s Movement VS Independent National Electoral Commission & 4 Ors.
“*CA/PEPC/05/2023 between Abubakar Atiku & Anor VS Independent National Electoral Commission & 2 Ors.
“In a bid to promote transparency and openness, these judgments will be televised live by interested Television Stations for the public to follow,” the statement said.
Importantly, the statement noted that “Access to the Court premises will be strictly on accreditation. Only accredited individuals including Counsel and representatives of Political Parties, will be granted access into the Courtroom.
“For accreditation and further inquiries, please contact: Josephine on 08037052260 or Samira on 08164483081.
“We appeal for the maximum cooperation off the General Public to ensure a hitch free exercise, please.”
See the circular as signed below:
