Akpabio May Take Over From Tinubu As Interim President If Supreme Court Judgement Favours Atiku, Peter Obi

There is tension across the country as the Supreme Court starts hearing on the appeals filed against the verdict of the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC), which affirmed the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tinubu as the authentic winner of the 25th February 2023 presidential election.

Should the court pass its judgement in favour of the applicants, including the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM), President Tinubu and his Vice, Kashim Shettima, would have to vacate their respective offices.

In the case of such an event, their positions would be occupied by the third in command in the nation’s political structure, which by the constitution, would be the Senate President.

A legal practitioner, Akan Udoh, who spoke to journalists on who takes control of national leadership in case of such an event, said that there is no controversy on that at all.

“The 1999 Constitution (as amended) explicitly stipulates that the Senate President (in this case, Godswill Obot Akpabio) would act in that capacity for 90 days, within which an election must be held.

The Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Law are clear that the President and his deputy, as well as a State Governor and his deputy, are on a joint ticket, campaigning and standing for election together, and therefore, have similar mandates from the electorate.,” Udoh reportedly said while interacting with the Daily Times.

While the Senate President is being sworn in, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to conduct a fresh election to the nation’s two topmost offices within three months (90 days), understands.

Section 146 (2) of the Constitution specifically gives the Senate President the powers of the Presidency for a three-month window.