“Victory belongs to Nigerians ultimately” reaction as Nigerians query courts’ decision to telecast tribunal judgement

Reactions have trailed the Appeal Courts’ decision to allow a live broadcast of court proceedings at the presidential election tribunals’ judgement scheduled for Wednesday 6 September, 2023.

This was as the court, Monday, announced a date for the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, PEPT, to deliver judgement in the three petitions challenging the declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as winner of the 2023 presidential election.

Val9ja News earlier reported that the judiciary, through the Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal Headquarters, Umar Mohammed Bangari announced that the PEPT is set to deliver judgement on the 6th of September.

While the disclosure has raised anxiety and tension across the country, a Nigerian identified on X as Nefertiti has expressed concern over the Judiciary’s sudden decision to telecast the proceedings of the judgement scheduled for Wednesday.

Recall that the presidential election trubunal had reportedly said “NO to LIVE telecast of court proceedings” following calls by the Labour Party and PDP petitioners against APC’s Tinubu.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi had urged the court to allow a live broadcast of its sessions owing to the magnitude of the dispute.

But a five-member panel of the court headed by Haruna Tsammani ruled that there was no legal basis for its proceedings to be broadcast live.

Tsammani further Cited section 36 of the Nigerian constitution, stating that fair hearing of court proceedings “does not amount to conducting court sittings on television or in a stadium.”

He added that the request (for a live broadcast of the court proceedings) has no utilitarian value.

“Live broadcast of court proceedings has no provisions in our statutory books. There is nowhere in the constitution and Electoral Act for televising court sittings,” Tsammani said.

However, in a recent development, the court seems to be going against its own word as it says it would allow a live broadcast of court proceedings on the sixth when it will be delivering verdict on the 2023 presidential election amongst others.

Faulting the decision, Nefertiti in a post, asks why the court has decided to be selective regarding the application of a live telecast which she describes as “common sense.”

According to her, criminality & corruption amongst other vices in the country have fought a good fight but “Victory belongs to Nigerians ultimately.”

Her post read:

“Presidential Election Petition Tribunal will deliver judgment on Peter Obi/LP & Atiku/PDP Vs Tinubu/Shettima/APC on September 6. The same court that said NO to LIVE telecast of the proceedings, chose to broadcast the judgement LIVE. Why the selective application of common sense?

“I stayed away from commenting on retired Justice Mary Odili’s very insensitive & unguarded utterances; threats targeted at the judiciary & Nigerians. Adding my 2 cents to all that has been said, is needless. There are no kids on the streets of Nigeria, her empty threats are laughable, & they won’t work!

“Like the last kicks of dying horses, Impunity, criminality & corruption has fought a good fight! But Victory belongs to Nigerians ultimately. The Judiciary are the ones on trial, not Peter Obi, not Atiku, certainly not Tinubu. The judiciary will decide whether Nigeria will move forward or backwards

“Whatever happens on Wednesday will depend on Nigerians & their determination to chart a new beginning for themselves. The push for a New Nigeria which is POssible, must remain organic. The judges will decide where they stand, with Nigerians or with the Establishment, you choose?”

See Dollar(USD) to Naira Black Market Exchange Rate Today!