In a momentous event that brought the nation to a standstill, top government officials, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, convened at the Appeal Court on Wednesday for the highly anticipated Presidential Election Petition judgment.
The atmosphere within the Presidential Villa was described as eerily quiet, with many offices locked, as officials flocked to the court to witness this historic moment.
Joining Vice President Shettima at the court were several Governors of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Ministers, and other prominent government figures. It was clear that the judgment held immense significance for the nation.
President Bola Tinubu, who would ordinarily have been present, was notably absent, having traveled to India to participate in the G20 summit.
Outside the Court of Appeal premises, the scene was a flurry of activity as supporters of the “Asari Dokubo’s Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force” gathered to express their unwavering support for President Tinubu. They voiced concerns about attempts to undermine his election victory by manipulating youth and ethnic sentiments, and they were determined to show solidarity with the declared mandate given to Tinubu by INEC.
Ekiyor-Zua Daniels, Coordinator of the group, explained, “We have been on the ground for 109 days, protesting to support the Tinubu Presidency. Our activities are driven by the necessity to counter efforts by the Obi/Datti group to exploit youths and ethnicity to exert pressure on INEC regarding the declaration of Tinubu as President.”
Daniels emphasized that they are advocating for the right way to pursue a just cause and urged those with grievances to follow proper channels, without resorting to intimidation tactics targeting the judges.
“We advise everyone with grievances to go through the proper process and not intimidate the judges with mischievous intentions,” he said.
The group also condemned the publication of photographs of judges and their families, which they perceived as a threat to the safety of these judicial officers. They revealed that the Police had granted them clearance for their protest, which took place at the Eagles Square, behind the office of the Head of Service of the Federation.
However, the group maintained that they would respect and abide by the decision reached by the judges in the ongoing court judgment. “Whatever the judges decide, we will abide by it,” they affirmed.
This pivotal moment in the nation’s history has brought government activities to a temporary halt, as the nation awaits the outcome of the Presidential Election Petition judgment.
