Famous political commentator Oyeniyi Akinloye has questioned why the electoral tribunal is yet to start the hearing of election Petition despite the fact that 21 Days have elapsed. This comes amid ongoing public outrage surrounding the outcome of the February 25 presidential elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Recall that the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and also the candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar filled a petition seeking to nullify the victory of Tinubu in the just concluded general elections.
In an interview with Africa Independent Television’s “Democracy Today” program on Monday, Akinloye noted that this was the first time Nigerians from various regions of the country expressed dissatisfaction with the results of a national election, and it was also the first time the winning party sponsored protests calling for congratulations from its rivals and the general public.
His words: “I have also never seen where an election would be conducted and instead of the outbreak of pockets of violence like we used to see, especially in the northern part of the country, generally, people are calling for the matter to be finished in court and that the president-elect must not be sworn in. I have never heard of such before.”
It’s as if people are clamoring for an interim government by saying that it is either the petitions are resolved by the Election Tribunal before May 29, or Asiwaju should not be sworn in at all until the courts deliver judgment, but it is not possible. I also don’t know why the Tribunal is delaying the commencement of the hearing even though the 21 days for petition filing have elapsed.”
