5 Key Points About the Tribunal Judgement Day in Nigeria

Omajemite Don

September 6, 2023

2 min read

5 Key Points About the Tribunal Judgement Day in Nigeria

As the eagerly anticipated judgement day for the 2023 presidential election tribunal in Nigeria arrives, here are five crucial aspects to keep in mind:

1. Three Active Cases: While five political parties initially filed petitions against the election result, only three are still standing and awaiting verdicts. These include Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and the Allied People’s Movement (APM). APM seeks to invalidate the election result, alleging Tinubu’s illegitimacy and advocating for Atiku’s victory.

2. Live Televised Judgement: Unlike previous hearings, today’s judgement will be broadcast live by interested television stations to enhance transparency, allowing Nigerians across the country to follow the proceedings.

3. Five Judges to Decide: The three cases will be decided by five judges, and a ruling supported by at least three of them will be recognized as the majority decision. The judges overseeing the cases are Haruna Tsammani, Stephen Adah, Misturat Bolaji-Yusuf, Boloukuoromo Moses Ugo, and Abba-Bello Mohammed.

4. Not Final Decision: Regardless of today’s outcome, the tribunal’s decision is not the final step for presidential election petitions. The losing party or parties can file an appeal before the Supreme Court within 14 days. The Supreme Court then has a maximum of 60 days to deliver a ruling, which means a final decision on the election result may not be expected until November.

5. Historical Context: Nigerian courts have historically upheld the results of presidential elections, with very few exceptions. This case will either continue that trend or potentially set an unprecedented ruling.

The outcome of today’s judgement will have significant implications for Nigeria’s political landscape, and its impact may extend well beyond this initial decision.