There was tight security mounted by security agencies at the Presidential Election Petition Court, (PEPC) sitting at Court of Appeal headquarters, Abuja even at the time of this report (4.35 pm)on Wednesday.
In preparation for delivering judgment on petitions brought against the declaration of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu as winner of February 25, scores of armed riot policemen, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security operatives in plainclothes were deployed at strategic locations in the Federal Capital Territory in a bid to prevent a breach of law and order that might arise after the judgment.
The roads linking the Court of Appeal situated at the Central District Abuja opposite the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs have been cut off from Federal Secretariat junction, Federal Ministry of Financial junction and at dual carriageway from AYA such that commuters are made to pass straight only.
At about 6.50 pm, truckloads of policemen were sighted being brought to the Court of Appeal, and the police vehicles were used to barricade the court entrance while several policemen were also patrolling the city in vehicles.
A police team was seen taking instructions from their superiors shortly after they were brought to the court premises.
The court of Appeal workers, through a memo sent to the staff, informed them not to come to work on Wednesday.
An official of the court said, “Part of the reason workers were told not to come today was to ensure that workers’ absence allow a heavy presence of security operatives in strategic locations at the court premise.’’
At exactly 9.29 the five justices filed into the courtroom to determine the fate of Peter Obi, Abubakar Atiku, and others in their petition against President Ahmed Bola Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.
The petition by the Labour Party and its candidate in the presidential election that was held on February 25, Peter Obi, was called first, however, the panel, kick-started its verdict with that of the APM.
Group of women in support of President Tinubu outside the presidential election tribunal this morning.
The group carried a placard, ‘President Tinubu we voted for you and we support you, it’s your own turn on your mandate we shall stand ‘
Supporters of the petitioners were also gathered around different premises close to the court demanding justice.