Both the Petitioners, HE Peter Obi and Labour Party…and the Respondents, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC; HE Bola Ahmed Tinubu; HE Kashim Shettima; All Progressives Congress, APC will reconvene at the Abuja Appeal Court venue of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in conclusion of the Obi vs Tinubu series.
This final stage is for adoption of the final addresses for all parties. Many Nigerians who are interested enough have read through all copies of the final addresses, including responses from the Respondents on points of law.
When the petitions were filed, most Nigerians had this belief that it was impossible to recover any presidential mandate in Nigeria, no matter who stole it and who it was stolen from. But after some months of intriguing legal battles, most Nigerians are now having a rethink.
The Petitioners did not only do enough to prove their case in every issue in contention, the reports from national and international observers of the February 25 exercise were also in resonance with the affirmation of electoral non-compliance and brazen irregularities leading to violence and its many fatalities. The European Union Observers Report was the most emphatic in this regard. Beyond Obi’s petition, other petitions challenging Tinubu’s declaration by INEC were unanimous in aligning with almost all grounds of petition, including the almighty 25% requirement in the Federal Capital Territory.
One very indictable affirmation of guilt came from Tinubu himself when he threatened anarchy and chaos if he was removed from office via his counsels led by Wole Olanipekun, SAN, who should have known better.
Nobody defends his/her case before any court, let alone a tribunal, with arrogance and threats to reign mayhem if unfavourable justice is delivered. The essence of going to court is for equitable justice. No matter how excessive the guilty goes in covering his tracks, let the gavel speak.
As the final addresses get adopted today, we urge the Tribunal to prepare to deliver judgement based on the tons of evidence before her and dispassionate interpretations of relevant laws.
#LetJusticePrevail
This is POEM.
