The Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-political group has warned the judiciary about making an incorrect decision while Nigerians await the outcome of the Presidential Election Petition Court’s ruling.

Ohanaeze cautioned that if the judges make a wrong ruling, Nigerians may witness the same military takeover situation as in the Niger Republic.

The group advised the judges to be impartial in their verdicts on Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, which have been dogged by charges of anomalies and failure to comply with electoral regulations.

Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the group’s factional Secretary-General, claimed that the failure to adhere to the electronic transfer of election results from voting centres to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) central system, known as IREV, aggravated these worries.

In a statement, Isiguzoro noted that as Nigerians eagerly await the outcome of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), their hopes for a fair and impartial judgment are great.

Also, the understanding of the law’s requirement for a presidential candidate to win 25% of the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja is a critical question that judges must consider.

“We emphasize the consequences of an erroneous judgment in light of recent events such as the Nigerien military coup. The apex Igbo cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has cautioned the PEPT judges against making any errors in their verdict. Nigerians understand the gravity of this warning and recognize the potential consequences of an erroneous judgment. The judiciary must consider the broader implications of their decisions, as a flawed verdict could undermine public confidence in the democratic process and lead to social and political unrest,” the statement said.

The group further noted in the statement that the latest occurrences, such as the military coup in Niger, represent a sharp reminder of the vulnerability of democracy and the critical need of sustaining the rule of law. Nigerians have seen the devastation caused by political insecurity and the deterioration of democratic institutions. The PEPC must remember these lessons and recognise the critical role they play in maintaining Nigeria’s democracy and the integrity of the electoral process.

Ohanaeze emphasized that the hopes of Nigerians for the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal are based on their desire for an “unbiased and uncompromised” judgment.