Heavy security deployed in Abuja as verdict on presidential election petition looms

Security measures have been significantly increased at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) and various crucial sites in Abuja in anticipation of the tribunal’s verdict scheduled for today.

According to reports from ThePressNG, this verdict pertains to a petition submitted by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his counterpart from the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi. They are contesting the outcome of the presidential election held on February 25, in which President Bola Tinubu emerged victorious.

In preparation for the proceedings, the police have dispatched numerous squads of officers to the Court of Appeal in Abuja, where the tribunal’s activities will take place. Additionally, there is a noticeable presence of armed riot policemen, members of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other plainclothes security personnel strategically stationed throughout the city.

This publication learnt that the acting Inspector-General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has ordered all police commands and formations across the country to secure all major hotspots under their jurisdictions to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order.

The police have also warned “mischief makers and political gladiators to be cautious in their actions and statements”.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumiyiwa Adejobi, said in a statement on Tuesday that the police will not condone activities capable of inciting violence or causing a descent into anarchy.

He urged all citizens to embrace peace and maintain calm, regardless of their political affiliations.