As September approaches, the nation’s attention turns toward the judiciary, poised to deliver its pivotal verdict in the dramatic presidential election petition tribunal. The All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party, anxiously anticipates a favorable judgment to secure President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s continued occupancy of Aso Rock. Simultaneously, the opposition forces, led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), yearn for justice, hoping for a decision that could potentially reshape Nigeria’s democratic history.
Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the LP have been embroiled in a contentious battle with President Tinubu for weeks, challenging his eligibility to contest the presidential polls and alleging the illegitimacy of his election victory. After weeks of heated debates and arguments at the appellate court, the tribunal now stands on the precipice of its final judgment, scheduled for September.
Umar Bangari, the Court of Appeal Registrar, confirmed this development in a statement to Channels Television on Monday, further revealing that the proceedings will be open to live broadcasts by interested television stations, ensuring transparency in this pivotal moment.
In addition to the presidential election, the election tribunals in 25 states are set to deliver judgments on governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly election petitions. Notably, contests have arisen in no fewer than 25 states out of the 28 states where elections were conducted, adding to the significance of this electoral reckoning.
Yet, the tribunal finds itself under intense pressure, as petitioners implore its members to resist any form of intimidation from the presidency and instead issue a judgment that truly reflects the will of the Nigerian people. The die is cast, and as September draws near, the fate of Nigeria’s democracy hangs in the balance, awaiting the scales of justice to tip in one direction or the other.
