When will Tinubu, Shettima know their fate? (See schedule of cases at Presidential Election Petition Court)

A tentative timeline for the conclusion of the cases being heard by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) showing that judgement in the cases challenging the declaration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President and Senator Kashim Shettima as Vice President would be any time from August 12, 2023, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has emerged.

The petitioners are Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar while the defendants are the INEC, Tinubu, Shettima and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

All the petitioners had closed their cases before the Court adjourned to reconvene on July 3, 2023.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Court will commence on July 3, 2023, with the 1st Respondent (INEC)’s defence till July 7, 2023 while the 2nd and 3rd Respondents (Tinubu and Shettima) will begin their defence on July 8, 2023 and end on July 13, 2023. The 4th Respondent (APC) will then begin its defence on July 14, 2023 and close on July 17, 2023. July 17, 2023, is scheduled for close of all evidence.

Between July 28, 2023, and August 12, 2023, will be devoted to Respondents’ and Petitioners’ Addresses, Respondents’ Replies and Adoption of the Addresses, and anytime thereafter, but not later than September 16, 2023, will be judgement day.

Of course, after the judgement, there will still be the option of recourse to the Supreme Court, as the Court of last resort, for any party that is dissatisfied with the outcome of the cases at the PEPC.