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Award-winning novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was present at the Presidential Election Tribunal court.
The novel Laurette joined Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), and Datti Baba-Ahmed, the LP vice-presidential candidate, at the Tribunal court on Tuesday.
The three were present at the Tribunal court to present Obi's final address to the court. In the address, Obi and his party challenged the outcome of the February 25 election, which was won by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Adichie had openly canvassed support for Obi during the 2023 electioneering campaigns. In a letter addressed to US President Joe Biden in April, she expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the election.
She said the election was fraught with discrepancies and irregularities which were overlooked by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In their final written address, the petitioners insisted that Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima were not qualified to contest the poll. They also alleged that there were widespread irregularities in the election, including ballot box stuffing and vote buying.
The petition is still pending before the Tribunal court, and a ruling is expected in the coming weeks.
Watch the video below:
Adichie's Presence at the Court
Chimamanda's presence at the court was seen as a show of support for Obi and his party. She is a respected figure in Nigeria, and her presence at the court could help to raise awareness of the petition and the allegations of irregularities in the election.
Chimamanda's decision to support Obi was also seen as a sign of the growing dissatisfaction with the ruling APC government.
Obi is seen as a potential alternative to the APC, and his candidacy has attracted a lot of support from young people and other disaffected Nigerians.
The outcome of the petition is still uncertain, but Adichie's presence at the court is a sign that the case is being taken seriously.
The petition could have a significant impact on the political landscape in Nigeria, and it is likely to be closely watched by Nigerians and observers alike.
