#AtikuIsComing Tops Nigerian Twitter Trend After Justice Bulkachuwa’s Withdrawal

The hashtag “Atiku Is Coming” is currently topping the Nigerian Twitter trend, in what appears to be the anticipation of the supposed taking over of power from President Muhammadu Buhari by Atiku Abubakar, the 2019 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s main opposition party.

Naija News reports that the development is coming few hours after Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, the chairman of the five-man panel of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, recused herself from the tribunal.

This online news platform recalls that on seeing Justice Bulkachuwa as the chairman of the five-man panel of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Atiku Abubakar and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) raised the alarm over her “connection” with the ruling APC.

At the resumption of the Election Petition Tribunal sitting May 15, the tribunal asked the PDP and its candidate to formally file an application asking Justice Bulkachuwa to withdraw, which the party did on May 16.

At the resumption of sitting on Wednesday, the tribunal dismissed the application by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nigeria’s main opposition party and its presidential candidate seeking to disqualify Justice Bulkachuwa from presiding over the five-man panel tribunal that is hearing petitions challenging the declaration that President Muhammadu Buhari won the February 23 presidential election.

The five-man panel in a unanimous ruling held that the said motion lacked any merit to warrant the tribunal to grant it.

However, Justice Bulkachuwa personally decided to recuse herself on the ground that the law has been properly stated.

Giving reasons for her decision, the judge said: “I have allowed the ruling on the application urging me to rescue my membership of the tribunal to test the position of the law.

“Now that the application has been dismissed on account of incompetence, I hereby announce my withdrawal from the panel.

“The remaining four members of the panel would remain while step would be taken to appoint my replacement’’, she said.

Moments after she took the decision, Nigerians took to the micro-blogging site, Twitter, to air their opinions on her withdrawal with #AtikuIsComing.

#AtikuIsComing topping Nigerian Twitter trend on Wednesday night, May 22, 2019.

Naija News captured some of the reactions below…

Dear @aatiku__ et @PeterObi.. I wish to bring to your notice of the recent event in the UEFA champions league football, where are Liverpool & Tottenham emerged victorious in the semifinals despite the injuries and terrible Ist leg games..I see you leading Nigeria.#AtikuIsComing pic.twitter.com/eqSxkPzKmU

— Emex.eth (@OMichaelemex) May 22, 2019

Folks, the pressure from here, and from everywhere else was telling! Justice Bulkachuwa has just recused herself from the @atiku petition "due to public perception".

It is not yet uhuru in our collective struggle to reclaim our stolen mandate, but we forge on!#AtikuIsComing https://t.co/rDaZUWqJTi

— Chuba Ugwu (@Chonsyy) May 22, 2019

Breaking:
President of the court of appeal,
Zainab Bulkacuwa finally recuses her self from Presidential election petition tribunal. #AtikuIsComing pic.twitter.com/RYk87Yb4DD

— #FreeDadiyata🔴 (@Kabir_Kb1) May 22, 2019

He who laugh 😄 last, laugh best.
Chai🙆🙆 Naira Marley said: If you touch me péré walahi 2 years in Jail.

Now, Naira Marley in EFCC custody and #AtikuIsComing🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/J6saZGOunP

— Alaba Real💕 (@Alaba589) May 22, 2019

https://twitter.com/PrincePaulNG/status/1131261012274028544

Justice Bulkachuwa finally withdraws from Presidential Election Tribunal Panel over her relationship with APC

The PDP and Atiku Abubakar filed a motion asking Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa to step aside from the panel

Yes, Democracy and PDP won#AtikuIsComing pic.twitter.com/0xCYCtBClh

— Governoronuh 🇳🇬 (@onuhadah) May 22, 2019

Trending rn
Adidas
Dortmund
Chelsea
Hazard #AtikuIsComing
Funnily enough, SUICIDE is Trending😮 😮

If you want real SUICIDE, find this man👇👇👇 and just kill his dog 🐶
Go and make RIP polo😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/0dFIKAtz87

— Alaba Real💕 (@Alaba589) May 22, 2019

https://twitter.com/deecool4peace/status/1131301231115345926

https://twitter.com/Sports_Doctor1/status/1131295020009578497

#AtikuIsComing
Na you twitter people deceive Atiku say he go get vote for election, small time most of you didn't have PVC eventuary.

The winter that is coming for Atiku now, we'll see🤠

Eyin Judge Web 😔

— Advantage of Ibadan (@leaderadv1) May 22, 2019