By Louis Achi
Hope and uncertainty take centre stage in Nigeria today, as the country’s Supreme Court hears the triple appeals challenging the electoral victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The panel of seven justices is led by Justice Inyang Okoro. Others are Justice Helen Ogunwumiju, Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, Justice Adamu Jauro, Justice Tijani Abubakar, Justice Emmanuel Agim and Justice Lawal Garba.
While the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has expressed confidence that the President will come out victorious, the other opposition parties convey a different position.
Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 presidential poll is being challenged by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Labour Party, LP, and the Allied Peoples Movement, APM.
The opposition parties had earlier lost at the Presidential Election Petitions Court, PEPC, where they first challenged Tinubu’s victory.
Miffed at the verdict of the PEPC, both parties and their candidates, Atiku Abubakar (PDP) and Peter Obi (LP) as well as the APM proceeded to the Supreme Court, which fixed today for hearing.
Speaking on Sunday ahead of today’s hearing, the APC Director of Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, told TheNewDiplomat that the opposition would lose again.
His words: “We are expecting justice and I know the Supreme Court Justices are just. They are going to look at the cases on merit. So, we are optimistic that justice is going to be done just as was done earlier at the presidential tribunal judgment.
“We are not expecting anything different from a just and fair ruling. Whatever may be the case, my confidence is in the judicial system of Nigeria. So, I am consoled that justice will be delivered and whoever wins or loses should take it in good faith.
“But as a party, the APC is confident the Supreme Court is going to be just.”
But if the APC is upbeat, the PDP saw it differently and expressed firm optimism that the Supreme Court will sack Tinubu and declare Atiku as winner.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement on Sunday, said, that “Nigerians and indeed the whole world look forward to the Supreme Court for justice in the hope that the court will apply the laws, including the express provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022 and INEC Guidelines and Regulations in delivering substantial justice in the matter.
“The earnest expectation of Nigerians and lovers of democracy across the world is that the Supreme Court will use this case to firmly validate the maxim that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man.
“Nigerians are, therefore, optimistic that the Supreme Court will dispense substantial justice according to the law and the facts in the appeal.”
Meanwhile, the Allied Peoples Movement also urged the Supreme Court to nullify the election of Tinubu, saying his running mate was not validly nominated.
According to the party, the placeholder nominated by the President, Ibrahim Masari, was not replaced within the 14 days stipulated by Section 33 of the Electoral Act.
The APM also said the tribunal was wrong to have held that the nomination and sponsorship of Tinubu and Kashim Shettima were APC internal affairs.
On its part, the LP has expressed confidence of obtaining justice at the apex court which it said will revalidate the electorate’s verdict.
According to Obiora Ifoh, the LP spokesman, genuine democracy can not survive without the judiciary firmly reining in extreme Impunities that have been contrived to undermine its integrity.
Meanwhile, another dimension to the palpable uncertainty stems from the impending retirement of Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad on Friday, October 27, upon reaching the age of 70.
The development is expected to further diminish the apex bench from 11 to 10 justices.
As per a statement from the Director of Press and Information at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, a valedictory court session has been scheduled for October 27, 2023, at 10:00 am in the Main Courtroom of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, to mark Justice Musa Dattijo’s retirement from the bench. The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, will preside over this special court session and offer tributes alongside other prominent figures in the nation’s justice sector.
The seven-member panel, selected from the subsisting pool of 10 justices, has less than a month to conduct hearings and render judgments on these three distinct appeals.
While the law mandates a 60-day window for the apex court to address and make a determination on an appeal related to an election matter, it’s noteworthy that over 30 days have elapsed since the filing of the Notice of Appeal on September 18.
Additionally, the apex court is anticipated to form multiple panels to address gubernatorial appeals originating from the lower courts, as well as pre-election appeals stemming from off-season circle elections.
TheNewDiplomat reports that armed police and State Security Service (SSS) operatives are guarding all access roads to the Supreme Court.
Police diverted vehicular traffic from the Court of Appeal end of the Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja, up to the Head of Service intersection where they stationed their armoured personnel carrier.
At the entrance of the Supreme Court, hooded SSS operatives and mobile police officers were seen screening accredited lawyers, litigants and journalists.
