Supreme Court grants live broadcast of court proceeding as it rules on Atiku, Obi’s petition against Tinubu

Supreme Court grants live broadcast of court proceeding as it rules on Atiku, Obi’s petition against Tinubu

The Supreme Court has granted permission for live broadcast of court proceedings pertaining to the petitions filed by Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi against the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

This development was announced by Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu’s special advisor on strategy and communications.

The directive to allow the live broadcast was issued by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, according to Mr Onanuga.

“Breaking: The Supreme Court judgment on the appeals filed by Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi will be broadcast live, according to an order by Chief Justice of Nigeria Olukayode Ariwoola,” a tweet by Mr Onanuga read.

This announcement comes in the wake of earlier reports by PoliticsNow, which revealed that the court would deliver its rulings this morning on the appeals brought forth by Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Both petitioners are opposing All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate Bola Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 presidential election.

Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi had previously challenged the ruling of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT), which had dismissed their petitions and upheld Tinubu’s election victory. They now bring their grievances before the Supreme Court in independent appeals.

Following the submission of briefs of arguments by the concerned parties, a seven-member panel of Supreme Court judges, presided over by Justice Inyang Okoro, reserved judgment in this matter on October 23, 2023.

Atiku Abubakar’s petition, in particular, calls for the nullification of President Tinubu’s electoral victory, alleging that Tinubu provided fraudulent academic credentials to INEC in order to qualify as a presidential candidate. This issue, among others, will be thoroughly examined in the upcoming live-broadcast proceedings.

Recall that the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, while delivering its verdict on Obi and Atiku’s petition, also allowed live broadcasts of its proceedings.