2023 Polls: Tinubu, Atiku, Obi absent as Supreme Court delivers judgment

The Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) and Labour Party's presidential candidates, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, were not present on Thursday, October 26 when the Supreme Court handed down its ruling regarding the presidential election that took place on February 25, 2023.

President Bola Tinubu, the then-candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), whose election is being contested at the highest court, is also not present in court.

Atiku and Obi went before the Tribunal to challenge the results after Tinubu was declared the victor of the hotly contested election.

The Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) in Abuja upheld Tinubu's electoral victory following about seven months of legal fireworks.

The Tribunal ruling in a verdict on September 6, stated that the PDP and its candidate, Atiku, failed to substantiate the claims against this ground, as well as against any other reason in their appeal.

Justice Haruna Tsammani, leader of the five-man panel, said, “This petition accordingly lacks merit. I affirm the return of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the duly elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The parties are to bear their cost.”

Atiku and Obi later filed an appeal with the Supreme Court of Nigeria after being dissatisfied with the tribunal's decision.

At its most recent meeting on Wednesday, the supreme court set Thursday, October 26 for the decision on the petitions submitted by Atiku and Obi.

Inyang Okoro, Uwani Abba-Aji, Lawal Garba, Ibrahim Saulawa, Adamu Jauro, Abubakar Tijjani, and Emmanuel Akomaye Agim are the seven justices who will render the historic verdict.

The judgment represents the last word in the court's resolution of the election-related challenges. It will signal the conclusion of a two-phase legal battle, the first phase of which was decided in favour of Ibu by the Presidential Election Court and then contested at the Supreme Court.

The Nigerian Senior Advocates and other attorneys have already taken their seats at the highest court. Prominent people, including senior government officials, are present in court in addition to the attorneys to hear the verdict.

APC and Labour Party chairmen Abdullahi Ganduje and Julius Abure, Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesome Wike, President Femi Gbajabiamila's chief of staff, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribudu, and President Seyi Tinubu's son are among those present in court.

President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, meanwhile, are noticeably missing from the courtroom. Notable absences include Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, the running partner for Obi, and Atiku and his running companion, Ifeanyi Okowa.

GA