As Nigerians eagerly await the verdict of the presidential election petition tribunal scheduled for today, the Coalition of United Political Parties, Chief Peter Ojonugwa Ameh, and Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, a prominent member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, voiced their expectations for a fair and just judgment based on the rule of law.
Ameh emphasized the need for the judges to deliver justice that is rooted in truth and reflects what transpired during the national polls.
He expressed concerns about the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission during the election, saying, “All we want is justice that is rooted in truth and justice that is based on what really transpired on the day of the election when INEC changed the goal post in the middle of the match.”
He further added, “INEC promised Nigerians real-time transmission of election results from polling units using the BVAS to capture and transmit the results to the IREV portal in order to eliminate fraud and uphold the integrity of our electoral process.”
Ameh criticized INEC’s failure to ensure accurate and consistent election results, citing the commission’s lack of transparency in disclosing the nature and extent of glitches that occurred.
He pointed out that INEC had the authority to determine the methods of result transmission and stressed the importance of adhering to established principles for democracy and electoral integrity.
On the other hand, APC chieftain Eze expressed concerns about the signs leading up to the tribunal’s judgment. He cited various warnings and actions that raised doubts about the fairness of the verdict.
Eze mentioned Justice Mary Odili’s statement cautioning against opposition or abuse of the Justices based on the judgment’s outcome, which he viewed as ominous.
He also pointed to warnings from security agencies against protests, suggesting that the government might not expect a favorable judgment.
Additionally, Eze noted that some judges and politicians were reportedly leaving the country, indicating their lack of confidence in a just outcome.
He mentioned the government’s warning to Vice Chancellors and the call by the Nigeria Labour Congress for workers not to operate during this period, which further heightened the sense of uncertainty.
Eze concluded by expressing his concerns about the country’s future and urged those who love Nigeria to pray for its salvation.
