Vice President Kashim Shettima; Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, the National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu; are among top officials who are in court awaiting the commencement of the delivery of judgment by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).
Also in attendance are the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Abdullahi Ganduje; Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Mai Mala Buni (Yobe),; Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti) and Hope Uzodinma (Imo).
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the just concluded presidential elections, Peter Obi was noticeably absent at the tribunal sitting.
When the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Haruna Tsammani asked for the introduction of petitioners and responders, the embattled chairman of the LP, Julius Abure noted that he was standing in for the petitioner, Peter Obi.
The Vice-President, Kashim Shettima introduced himself as the first responder, alongside the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje.
The tribunal is expected to deliver judgment on the election petitions challenging the election of President Bola Tinubu by the presidential candidates for the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, and Labour Party’s Peter Obi.
Today’s judgment will be delivered by the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Haruna Tsammani, assisted by other members of the panel: Justices Stephen Adah, Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf, Moses Ugo, and Abba Mohammed.
There is heavy security deployment at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and other flash points and dark spots in Abuja ahead of the delivery of the judgment on the election petitions challenging the election of President Bola Tinubu today.
This was as the supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party standard bearer, Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, and President Tinubu awaited the verdict with earnest expectations.
Supporters of the petitioners have been exchanging brickbats online even as they expressed optimism that the ruling would favour their candidates.
In preparation for the judgment, scores of armed riot policemen, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security operatives in plainclothes were deployed at strategic locations in the Federal Capital Territory in a bid to prevent a breach of law and order that might arise after the judgment.