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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria will be addressing the nation tonight at 7pm, according to his special adviser on special duties, communication, and strategy, Dele Alake. This will be his second broadcast since taking office in May. Meanwhile, the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) is preparing to deliver its judgment on three petitions seeking to nullify Tinubu’s election. Both the former Vice President and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, have filed separate petitions challenging Tinubu’s victory. The court has invited all parties involved to present their final arguments.
Dele Alake, the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication, and Strategy, has announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will address Nigerians today, Monday July 31, 2023, at 7pm.
This statement was released by Dele Alake on Monday morning.
In the statement, the presidential spokesperson urged television stations, radio stations, and other electronic media outlets to connect to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority and Radio Nigeria for the broadcast.
This will be President Tinubu’s second broadcast since taking office on May 29.
In photo: Judges and other court staff at the elections tribunal
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The presidential tribunal on Monday morning issued an order directing all parties involved in the case to appear before it tomorrow to present their final briefs of argument, pending the final fixing of the date for judgment.
Former Vice President and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, as well as the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi in the 2023 general elections, both filed separate petitions seeking the nullification of President Tinubu’s victory at the polls.
Consequently, the Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel has invited the parties to adopt their written address regarding the petition against the President, after undergoing several due processes within the given timeframe.
President Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner of the presidential election held on February 25, with 8,794,726 votes, defeating the two major contenders, Atiku and Obi of the PDP and LP respectively.
Both parties were dissatisfied with the election outcome and sought redress in court.
Both petitioners claimed victory in the presidential elections, while questioning Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the election.
Also under review at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) is one of the petitioners’ query regarding the votes secured by President Tinubu during the elections.
The petitioners argued that Tinubu failed to secure the majority of lawful votes cast in the election, especially the mandatory 25% votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Both parties are requesting the court to declare that Tinubu did not secure the majority of lawful votes cast in the election and to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to him by INEC. Alternatively, they ask the court to order a fresh presidential election, excluding Tinubu, whom they argue was not qualified to participate in the poll.
According to the Electoral Act 2022, candidates aggrieved by the election outcome must file a petition within 21 days after the result is declared by INEC, and the court is required to deliver its judgment in writing within 180 days.
Relatedly, the court concluded the hearing of both Atiku and Obi’s petitions on July 5.
