Ahead of the delivery of the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja on Wednesday, the military and the police have said they will not condone any unlawful action by troublemakers.
According to The PUNCH, the Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, warned those who might be planning to cause violence on that day to discard the idea.
Similarly, the police authorities have beefed up security across several states in preparation for Wednesday’s judgment.
The Osun State Police Command assured that adequate security measures had been put in place to ensure the safety of lives and property.
The command spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, assured “there won’t be a crisis in any part of the state as adequate security measures have been provided.’
“We don’t harbor any fear but we are prepared and we will ensure that lives and property are protected before, during, and after the judgment,” she noted.
The command explained that its men were on alert to contain any protest or demonstration that might have been planned by miscreants in case the judgment did not go down well with them.
Although Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, was peaceful on Monday evening with no noticeable presence of security men, the spokesperson for the state police command, Ajayi Okasanmi, said that the force was ready to maintain the peace and security in the state.
“We are appealing to politicians and different political groups in the state to call their members to order as no form of protest or demonstration will be tolerated in the state. The political leaders are advised to call their supporters and warn them against organizing any protest in the state for now.
“This is a state of harmony and the situation is cool and peaceful but our officers and men are ready to check untoward movement or demonstration by any group of miscreants who plan to disrupt the peace of the state,’’ Okasanmi cautioned.
In response to the planned delivery of the judgment on the presidential election petitions, the Gombe State Police Command has also warned troublemakers to steer clear of the state.
Confirming the command’s readiness to deal with any untoward incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mahid Abubakar, said measures had been activated to ensure the protection of lives and property.
He said, “Any individual or group of persons planning to cause trouble should steer clear from the state, else they will be arrested and they will face the full wrath of the law.
“The command is aware of the development and given that the Commissioner of Police, Oqua Etim, has directed adequate security measures be put in place to avert any unforeseen circumstances before, during, and after the judgment.’’
The tribunal, in a statement on Monday, announced it would on Wednesday deliver judgment on the petitions challenging the declaration of Bola Tinubu as the winner of the 2023 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The tribunal justices who will deliver the verdict on Wednesday are the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Haruna Tsammani; Justice Stephen Adah of the Court of Appeal (Asaba Division), Justice Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf , Court of Appeal (Asaba Division), Justices Moses Ugo (Court of Appeal, Kano) and Abba Mohammed of the Ibadan Division of the Court of Appeal.
Announcing the judgment day in a statement on Monday, the Chief Registrar, Court of Appeal headquarters, Umar Bangari, stated that the tribunal verdict would be aired live on television stations.
This, he noted, was to promote transparency and openness and for Nigerians to watch the proceeding.
The statement read, “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 Peoples 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.”
