The Nigerian Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) will commence the hearing of petitions today, May 8th, challenging the result of the February 25th presidential election, which saw Bola Tinubu declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Two of the candidates, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, have rejected the result and filed separate petitions.
Atiku's petition alleges that the results from thousands of polling units were not properly transmitted and uploaded by INEC, and he has called for the election to be cancelled and a fresh one conducted.
The former Vice President argued that as of March 1st, when Tinubu was declared the winner of the election, the entire results and accreditation data from polling units had not been transmitted and uploaded by INEC. Atiku also cited several instances of violence, voter intimidation, ballot box snatching, and other irregularities that occurred during the election.
On the other hand, Obi's petition argues that the election was characterized by various irregularities, including voter suppression, vote buying, and the alleged non-qualification of Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, to contest the election.
Obi also claimed that Tinubu failed to win a majority of lawful votes and one-quarter of lawful votes cast in the FCT, which is a requirement for a presidential candidate to be declared the winner of the election. Additionally, he alleged that the election was largely conducted without complying with the provision of the law.
The PEPC has an important task of reviewing the evidence presented by the petitioners and deciding on the validity of their claims. The court's decision will have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria's political future, as it will determine whether Tinubu's presidency is legitimate or if a fresh election needs to be conducted.
The hearing is expected to last several weeks, and the court's decision will be eagerly awaited by Nigerians and the international community alike.
The Nigerian government has assured the people that the hearing will be conducted fairly and transparently and has called for all parties to respect the rule of law and the judicial process.
The government has also urged Nigerians to remain calm and patient while the hearing proceeds and to avoid any actions or statements that could incite violence or undermine the stability of the country.
The outcome of the hearing will be crucial for Nigeria's democratic process, and all eyes will be on the PEPC as it begins this important task. Regardless of the outcome, the court's decision will set a precedent for future elections and could have significant implications for the country's political landscape. The Nigerian people will be watching closely to see if justice is served and if their voices are heard.
