"Get to Know the Judges Who Could Potentially Rule on Atiku, Obi, and Tinubu's Case"

As Nigeria's next president, Bola Tinubu faces challenges from the Labour Party and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election. 

The opposition parties have filed a petition against Tinubu, and it will be heard by a presidential election tribunal within 180 days from the filing of the petition, according to Section 132 subsection 7 and 8 of the 2022 Electoral Act. 

The tribunal will be decided by six senior Supreme Court judges. 

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kayode Ariwoola, is expected to head the panel, which includes Musa Muhammed, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, John Inyang Okoro, Chima Nweze, Amina Augie, Uwani Aji, and Lawal Garba. 

The judges will be tasked with deciding on issues that include Tinubu's qualification to run, manipulation of technology to his advantage, and failure to score at least 25% of votes in the Federal Capital Territory. 

Atiku and Obi, representing PDP and the Labour Party, respectively, have requested that the court declare them the winner if Tinubu's victory is invalidated. 

They also requested a rerun of the election if their initial request is not granted. 

It is common for Nigeria's presidential elections to face legal challenges, with President Muhammadu Buhari leading the way since 2003.

The judges on the panel have a track record of handling prominent cases in the country.

Here is a summary of notable cases handled by some judges in the Supreme Court of Nigeria:

Olukayode Ariwoola 

He was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2011, having previously served in the Oyo State High Court and the Court of Appeal. 

Ariwoola was a member of the Supreme Court's panel that upheld the outcome of the 2019 presidential election in favour of Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC). 

He also presided over the judgement that sacked Emeka Ihedioha of the PDP as Imo State governor and replaced him with Hope Uzodinma of APC on January 14, 2020. Additionally, he delivered the lead majority decision dismissing Ihedioha's request for a review of the earlier verdict.

Musa Dattijo Muhammad

He was appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court in July 2012. 

He presided over the ruling that affirmed Gbenga Kaka as the senator-elect of Ogun East Senatorial District in the April 2, 2011 senatorial election.

Kudirat Kekere-Ekun 

She is the fifth and youngest female to be appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. 

Kekere-Ekun delivered a judgement that affirmed a Court of Appeal, Calabar division, ruling that barred Michael Aondoakaa, a former attorney-general of the federation and minister of Justice, from holding public office in the country for life. 

In 2020, she was on the seven-member panel that sacked Imo State Governor Ihedioha and declared that the winning candidate was Uzodinma of the APC. Last February, she also nullified the nomination of Emmanuel Bwacha as the governorship candidate of the APC in Taraba State.

John Inyang Okoro

He was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court in November 2014. 

He was arrested by the Department of State Service (DSS) on October 8, 2016, on allegations of bribery and corruption. After investigations, he was exonerated and recalled as a judge of the Supreme Court.

 Chima Nweze

During the ruling on the application filed by Ihedioha, a former governor of Imo, Nweze stood out. 

While majority of the seven-man panel disagreed with Ihedioha, Nweze found merit in the application. 

In his dissenting judgment, he asked the court to set aside the January 14 judgement that removed Ihedioha from office, describing it as a nullity and in bad faith. 

He also nullified the declaration of Uzodinma of APC as governor on account of "wrong declaration" and held that Uzodinma misled the court into an unjust conclusion with the unverified votes in 388 polling units.