PEPT: Cleric urges aggrieved parties to eschew violence, approach apex court for redress

As Nigerians react to the verdict of the 2023 Presidential Election Tribunal ruled by a 5-man panel of judges, a cleric and lead pastor of Gospel House, Home of The Gospel Deliverance Ministry International, headquartered in Calabar, Pastor James John has admonished parties who do not agree with the tribunal ruling to seek redress at the Supreme Court instead of resorting to “Self-Help” by engaging in needless protests which may be infiltrated by miscreants to cause mayhem in the country.

Pastor John gave the advice in a chat with newsmen in Calabar Wednesday September 6, after monitoring the live-broadcast of the PEPT session.

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) upheld the victory of President Bola Tinubu’s by ruling that Nigeria’s main opposition parties; PDP, LP, APM failed to prove their claims of electoral malpractice against the governing All Progressive Congress (APC) in the February 25, 2023 Presidential election.

Judges rejected all claims made by Obi and Atiku, including fraud charges and electoral authorities broke the law and allegations that Tinubu was ineligible to run.

Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Peter Obi of the LP has all rejected the verdict and can appeal to the Supreme Court to dismiss the tribunal’s ruling.

It would be recalled that no legal challenge of the outcome of Presidential election has succeeded in Nigeria since democracy returned in 1999 after long years of military rule.

Any appeal must be concluded within 60 days of the date of the tribunal judgment.

By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)