Hundreds of Nigerians staged a protest outside the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday, expressing anger over the economic situation in the country and chanting slogans against President Bola Tinubu. The protest coincided with the scheduled continuation of activist and presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore's criminal trial. Sowore shared a video of the demonstration on social media, showing protesters gathered at the entrance of the court.
The protest was in response to the ongoing dispute over President Tinubu's electoral records. Sowore's defence team had secured a court subpoena compelling the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Joash Amupitan, to produce specified electoral documents submitted by Tinubu. The subpoena issued by Justice Mohammed Garba Umar directed Amupitan to produce Tinubu's INEC Form CF001.
The documents sought by Sowore's defence team include Tinubu's INEC Form CF001 submitted during his 1999 Lagos State governorship candidacy and the Form CF001 submitted for the 2023 presidential election. The court also requested an affidavit concerning lost certificates submitted by Tinubu during his 1999 candidacy. The defence team is seeking the documents in charge number FHC/CR/484/2025.
However, the planned production of the records has been complicated by a fresh legal move by INEC. The commission, through its chairman and lawyers, approached the Federal High Court on November 10, seeking to set aside the subpoena. INEC argued that the subpoena was not personally served on Amupitan and challenged the description and availability of the documents requested.
The court had yet to rule on the application as of the latest reports. The development has raised fresh questions over whether the electoral commission will be compelled to produce the documents requested by Sowore's defence team. The protest brought the dispute over Tinubu's electoral records into public view, with demonstrators chanting against the President.
The protesters expressed frustration over hunger and the state of the economy, chanting slogans such as "Tinubu Must Go" and "Hunger dey". The court proceedings are expected to determine the next steps in the dispute over the subpoena and the defence's request to have the electoral records presented. The outcome may have implications for the ongoing trial of Sowore.
The trial of Sowore, who is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services (DSS) over statements describing Tinubu as a criminal, has been ongoing. The activist's defence team is seeking to have the electoral records presented as part of their defence. The court's decision on the subpoena and the production of the documents will be crucial in determining the next steps in the trial.
Key points
- The protest highlights the ongoing dispute over President Tinubu's electoral records and the frustration of Nigerians over the economic situation in the country.
