Presidential Election Petition Court to judgment in live broadcast after much agitation by Nigerians
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Bola Tinubu will know on Wednesday whether he will continue to bear the title of President or be sacked over several alleged unlawful activities when the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) delivers judgment in the petitions filed by Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The eagerly awaited judgment will be delivered from 9am on September 6 and be broadcast live on radio, television, and via social media channels, a source close to the PEPC confided in The Nation, a newspaper owned by Tinubu.
Atiku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Obi of the Labour Party (LP) both want the PEPC to annul Tinubu’s election over several allegations of illegality, the critical ones including election rigging, identity theft, age falsification, certificate forgery, and perjury.
The defeated party or parties is/are expected to appeal to the Supreme Court which will have the final say.
This is a breaking story.
Details later…
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DSS raises alarm over planned protests
Two days to the court judgment, the Department of State Services (DSS) has raised an alarm over alleged plans by some individuals and groups to stage “violent protests” to discredit the federal government and security agencies over sundry socio-economic conditions.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) plans to embark on “peaceful protests” countrywide on Tuesday over inadequate palliatives for the removal of fuel subsidy which raised pump price with ripple effects across all goods and services, making citizens poorer.
Without referring to the NLC, the DSS speculated on Twitter “violent protests” about “socio-economic matters,” but the pending court judgment may be the main motivation for the warning.
“DSS DISCOVERS PLOT TO STAGE VIOLENT PROTESTS IN THE COUNTRY,” the secret police titled the announcement in all caps in its post on its official X (Twitter) handle on Monday, coinciding with the announcement of the date of the judgment by the PEPC.
“The Department of State Services (DSS) hereby informs the public that it has uncovered plans by some elements in parts of the country to stage violent protests in order to discredit the Federal Government and security agencies over sundry socio-economic matters,” DSS Public Relations Officer Peter Afunanya posted.
“Intelligence reports have indicated that the plotters include certain politicians who are desperately mobilising unsuspecting student leaders, ethnic based associations, youth and disgruntled groups for the planned action.
“Meanwhile, the Service has identified the ring leaders of the plot as well as sustained monitoring around them in order to deter them from plunging the country into anarchy.
“In view of this development, University Vice-Chancellors and Heads of Tertiary Institutions are advised to discourage their students from engaging in acts capable of derailing public peace.
“Also, parents and guardians are enjoined to admonish their children and wards respectively to shun the lure of participating in inimical behaviours or conducts against law and order.
“While the DSS is aware of government’s efforts and determination to resolve some of the challenges confronting the nation, it warns those desirous of subverting national security to retrace their steps.
“This is more so that it will not hesitate to legally come against persons and groups behind the devious plans.”