With next Monday fixed for the commencement of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal hearing, a former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd.) has urged Nigerians to accept the decisions of the court as final, when delivered.
At a symposium in honour of a one-time Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Chike Idigbe on Thursday, Gowon also urged Nigerians to allow the courts do its work without interference, as the judiciary plays a pivotal role in the unity of the country.
Also in attendance at the event were former Chief Justice, Justice Alfa Belgore; Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr Clem Agba; and some Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
Following the 25th February presidential election, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu had on 1st March declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu winner on the grounds that his party scored the majority of votes cast in the polls.
He had polled 8.8 million votes to defeat Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, who scored 6.9 million votes, and Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party, who polled 6.1 million votes, and 15 others.
However, Atiku and Obi, and a faction of the Action Alliance are disputing the result, filing separate petitions to annul the election or declare them the winners of the poll.
