Election Tribunal: Nigerians set for mega solidarity walk to demand judicial transparency

Nigerians are gearing up for a show of solidarity and advocacy as they await the highly anticipated judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT).

The call for justice has led to the organization of a solidarity walk set to take place in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital on Sunday, August 20th, 2023, with participants urged to converge at the City Gate.

The momentum is expected to be sustained in other states across the country, with a one million-man march expected to take place the following day, Monday, August 21st, at the Ring Road in Edo State, where participants are encouraged to dress in white and black outfits.

A key highlight of this advocacy and solidarity walk is the campaign, “All Eyes On The Judiciary,” which has gained significant traction on social media and is now being prominently displayed on billboards, fliers and t-shirts across major cities, including the Federal Capital Territory.

The founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc and Anap Foundation Atedo Peterside, said on Friday that the “All Eyes On The Judiciary” campaign statement was a neutral expression that should not provoke offense in a conscientious and upright society.

Meanwhile, the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) had directed that the “All Eyes On The Judiciary” billboards be brought down, saying the campaign message was intended to blackmail the presidential election petition tribunal. It later announced the suspend some of its top officials.

These billboards were funded by a group known as the Diaspora for Good Governance.

The Director-General of ARCON Olalekan Fadolapo, said the actions taken by the Council were done in alignment with its administrative procedures, adding that the suspended officials would have their day in court with a committee that would review the entire process.

The 1999 Constitution, as amended, and the Electoral Act, as amended, have provided a 180-day timeframe for the determination of election petitions by Election Tribunals, without provision for an extension of the time.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that based on this provision of law, the PEPT has until August 28^th to delivered its judgement.

Both Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) are seeking to upturn the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).