The Federal Capital Territory Police Command on Wednesday explained why it barricaded the roads leading to the Court of Appeal in Abuja earlier in the day.
The explanation was offered by the spokesman of the Command, Anjuguri Manzah, a Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Manzah said in the statement: “The FCT Police Command wishes to inform residents of the Federal Capital Territory that the barricading of roads leading to Court of Appeal, venue of the Presidential Election Tribunal, in the early hours of Wednesday was part of proactive measures by the Command to beef up security at the venue and forestall any act that could disrupt the Tribunal sitting and result in the breakdown of law and order.
“While regretting the inconveniences this might have caused law abiding citizens, especially those who have to use the said route to access their offices and businesses, the Command wants reiterate that its action was purely to avoid any clash that might arise between supporters of both parties.
“The Command seizes this medium to appreciate residents for their usual cooperation and reassure them that their safety is its utmost priority.”
On Wednesday, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, was at the Tribunal, where he and his party asked for the President of the Court of Appeal and the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, to disqualify herself from those to hear his petition.
Abubakar said Bulkachuwa’s husband, Mohammed, is a member of the All Progressives Congress and a senator-elect.
He said considering this, it would be difficult for the President of the Appeal Court to dispose of his case without bias since his contender and incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari, stood for the election on the platform of the APC.