Tinubu Not Worried about Wednesday’s Tribunal Judgement, Says Ajuri Ngelale

Ahead of the Wednesday’s judgment to be delivered by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, the Presidency has said President Bola Tinubu is not worried about the outcome of the tribunal.

Speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today,’ Ajuri Ngelale, said: “He (Tinubu) is not worried simply because he knows he won the election.”

According to Ngelale, the president sees no need to threaten judicial officers, saying that the judiciary was in the best position to make independent decision based on the merits of the case before it.

“The President sees no need to threaten judicial officers. He sees no need to raise speculations against the integrity of judicial officers; he believes in the sanctity and integrity of the Nigerian judicial system, he believes the great men and women on the panel will make their decisions based only on the fact before them.

“He will continue to ensure that no matter what the outcome of the judgment is, he does his part and ensure that our institutions continue to be respected, not just by him, but all actors,” Ngelale added.

The presidential spokesperson said Tinubu was optimistic that the panel would deliver judgment based on the evidence presented.

He said the president has, “confidence and faith” in the judiciary, adding that Tinubu was sure that his mandate would be affirmed.

“Unlike some political gladiators in the country, the president sees no need to threaten judicial officers,” he said.

“As a result of his confidence and faith in the judiciary, he believes that the mandate which Nigerians freely gave to him during the elections would stand. That is the position of the president.

“He will continue to ensure that no matter what the outcome of the judgment is, he does his part and ensures that our institutions continue to be respected, not just by him, but by all actors.

“He is not worried because he knows he won the election. We believe that we have presented the best case and the evidence is on our side.”

The Tribunal’s judgment would be delivered while the President is away in New Delhi, India, for the G-20 Leaders’ Summit.

Earlier on Monday, the Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Umar Bangari, had said the Tribunal would deliver its judgments on the cases before it challenging the victory of Tinubu, the then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25, 2023 poll.

The PEPT also said the proceedings would be open to live broadcast by interested television stations.

Tinubu’s election is being challenged by Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

Atiku, a former Vice President, came second in the keenly contested poll; while Obi, an ex-governor of Anambra State, came third.