Presidential Election Petition Tribunal dismisses September 6 ruling date reports

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has refuted the widely circulated reports suggesting that September 6 was the chosen date for delivering a ruling on the petitions challenging President Bola Tinubu’s electoral victory.

Nigerians have been eagerly awaiting the tribunal’s ruling in response to suits filed by the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as well as their presidential candidates, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar. These petitions contest President Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 election, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Earlier reports, which surfaced on Monday, indicated that the tribunal had set Wednesday, September 6 as the date for the ruling on these petitions.

It is worth noting that after receiving the final written addresses from all parties involved in the case, the five-member tribunal led by Justice Haruna Simon Tsamani reserved judgment, indicating that the verdict’s delivery date would be communicated to the relevant parties and their legal representatives.

However, in response to inquiries, Barrister Josephine J. Ekperobe, the Secretary of the PEPT panel, clarified that no specific date had been chosen for delivering the ruling.

“No date yet please,” Ekperobe stated when contacted by The Whistler.

According to constitutional provisions, the Tribunal is obligated to deliver judgment on the petition on or before September 17, as it is allowed a maximum of 180 days to conclude its proceedings.