Ganduje, Wike, Seyi Tinubu, Others in Supreme Court for Presidential Election Judgment

Alex Enumah in Abuja

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT), Nyesome Wike; All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; and President Tinubu’s son, Seyi, are among top politicians already seated at the Supreme Court for today’s judgment in two appeals against the election of Tinubu as President.

Others include, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and his counterpart in the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure.

The apex court Wednesday informed parties that its judgments in the appeals filed by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the LP, was ready and would be delivered today.

The judgment is coming three days after the apex court heard and reserved its judgment in the two appeals seeking the nullification of Tinubu’s election.

The judgment however is expected to close the curtain on the legal battles relating to the 2023 presidential election.

Recall that Justice John Okoro, who led six other justices of the seven-man panel of the Supreme Court had on Monday, announced that judgment had been reserved, shortly after lawyers representing parties in the appeal, identified and adopted their various processes in the appeal.

“Judgment is reserved to a date that would be communicated to parties”, Justice Okoro had held.

However, a notice issued to parties on Wednesday indicated that judgment had been fixed for Thursday.

The notice issued by one of the Registrars of the Supreme Court, Zainab Garba, read in part, “Take notice that judgment will be delivered in the above mentioned matter on Thursday October 26, 2023, before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, sitting at Law Court District Area, Abuja”.

The two appeals slated for judgment are that of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and that of Mr Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP). The apex court at Monday’s proceedings dismissed the third appeal filed by the Allied People’s Movement ( APM) shortly after it was withdrawn by the party’s lead counsel, Mr Chukwuma Machukwu-Ume, SAN.

Both Atiku and Obi are seeking the nullification of Tinubu’s victory on grounds of alleged malpractice, non-compliance with the electoral laws, corrupt practices amongst others.

Besides, it is their submission that Tinubu ought not to be on the February 25 presidential ballot on account of alleged forgery and lying on oath, amongst others.

Details later….