An alleged “criminal move” to declare Friday 26th and Monday 29th, 2023, as public holiday to ensure the swearing in of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been reportedly uncovered, according to News Band.
Reports had filtered in that the president-elect, Tinubu, is mounting pressure on President Muhammadu Buhari to declare May 26 and 29 as a public holidays to allow for his swearing in.
Meanwhile, the date for swearing in is May 29.
A source had raised the alarm over the alleged “criminal move to declare Friday 26 and Monday 29th as public holidays”.
He said: “The criminal move to declare Monday 26th as public holiday is aimed at scuttling the Supreme Court from delivering its judgement between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)/ the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) / Senator Kassim Shettima (the vice president-elect), which is likely to have far reaching implications on (APC).
Another source told News Band: “The Supreme Court will deliver judgment on Shetima’s double nomination on May 26.
“Tinubu is mounting pressure on Buhari to declare May 26 a public holiday.”
Consequently, all eyes are on the judiciary, which is poised to make or mar the election petitions filed by various parties challenging the emergence of Tinubu as the president-elect.
A political observer, however, feels that the petition will be quashed by the court as lacking in merit.
He noted that as a pre-election matter, the Supreme Court will rule that PDP has no locus to initiate the suit.
He said: “Since it is a pre-election matter, the Supreme Court on Friday will rule that PDP has no locus to institute the suit since they are not an aspirant at the APC presidential primaries.
“Only at the tribunal and subsequently at the Supreme Court will PDP and Labour Party (LP) have a locus to mount a challenge!
Another observer, meanwhile feels differently, stressing that the matter is “not just a pre-election matter but an Electoral Act 2022 offence.
He said: “It is not just a pre-election matter, much more an Electoral Act 2022 offence.
“So Supreme Court cannot dismiss it as claimed, for the Petitioners have Locus Standi.”
Therefore, it behoves on the judiciary to make or dash the hope of millions of Nigerians who desire the presidency of Mr. Peter Gregory Obi.
