Presidential election: Fake news peddlers on rampage as Nigerians await tribunal judgement

<p>As Nigerians await the final decision of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, PEPT, on the petitions challenging the election of President Bola Tinubu, some rumour peddlers are currently on rampage disseminating unverified news.</p>, <p>The petition filed by the Labour Party, LP, and its candidate, Peter Obi and his Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, counterpart, Atiku Abubakar challenging the outcome of the February 25 poll are still pending in the court.</p>, <p>There are indications that the tribunal may announce the date for the judgement in no distant time.</p>, <p>However, while the political space is being enveloped with tension, the social media is being flooded with fake news.</p>, <p>On Wednesday, a report emerged online purporting that a member of the court’s five-member panel, Justice Boloukuoromo Ugo tendered his resignation following alleged pressure from the ruling party.</p>, <p>The development was later debunked by the court.</p>, <p>Prior to the report of Mr Ugo’s resignation, the Supreme Court had on Tuesday denied a similar allegations stating that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola purportedly had a telephone call with President Bola Tinubu in regards to the latter’s case before the presidential election court.</p>, <p>The reports had alleged that Tinubu and the CJN recently had a phone conversation discussing how to pressurise the presidential election court in a bid to rule in favour of the ruling party.</p>, <p>Also, social media reports said Mr Ariwoola had a phone call with the Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Yusuf Bichi, concerning proceedings involving Tinubu at the court.</p>, <p>However, a statement issued by the Supreme Court’s director of press, Festus Akande, said the apex court was not aware of the purported call allegedly meant to manipulate the outcome of the petitions.</p>, <p>In the same vein, Tinubu’s party, the APC, denied the allegation of a phone conversation between the CJN and the President.</p>, <p>There was also a