The Labour Party (LP) has expressed its disapproval of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal’s decision, which dismissed the petitions filed by its candidate, Peter Obi, challenging the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25 presidential elections.

The PEPT had on Wednesday, quashed all charges filed by the LP and other political parties, challenging Tinubu’s victory. But the LP said in a statement on Wednesday that it rejects the rulings as they did not serve justice or reflect the law and the desires of the people.

“The Labour Party watched with dismay and trepidation the dismissal of petitions by the five-man panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani today and we reject the outcome of the judgment in its entirety because justice was not served and it did not reflect the law and the desire of the people,” Obiora Ifoh, national publicity secretary of the LP, said in the statement.

“Nigerians were witnesses to the electoral robbery that took place on February 25, 2023, which was globally condemned but the Tribunal in its wisdom refused to accept the obvious.

“What is at stake is democracy and we will not relent until the people’s will prevail.

“We salute the doggedness of our team of lawyers who fearlessly exposed the wrath in our system. We can only weep for democracy in Nigeria but we refuse to give up on Nigeria.

“Details of the party’s position will be presented after consultation with our lawyers after the Certified True Copy of the judgment is made available to us.”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Tinubu the winner of the presidential election and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Obi the second and third runners-up respectively.

However, both the LP and the PDP filed petitions in March challenging the outcome of the presidential poll.

In their final written address dated July 20, the petitioners reiterated their claim that both Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima were not eligible to participate in the election.

The petitioners had contended that Tinubu’s ineligibility stemmed from the forfeiture of $460,000 in the US and his inability to secure 25 percent of the votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The petitioners also challenged the outcome of the election on the grounds of fraud and electoral malpractices, which they said the INEC had connived with the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to perpetrate to rig the election.

The PDP also rejected the judgment, vowing to approach the Supreme Court. The party’s team of lawyers led by Chief Chris Uche said their client only got a judgment from the court and not justice.

“Judgment has just been delivered but we have not received justice. Luckily, the Constitution has given us the right to go on appeal.

“This is the court of first instance. We still have the right to go on appeal to the Supreme Court and you see, this is a struggle that is not just for our client, but for the Constitution of this country, for the rule of law and democracy.

“We were expecting an outcome that will improve, encourage the use of technology to enhance election management, to enhance transparency, to enhance accountability, so that Nigerians will believe in democracy.

“So that Nigerians can come out in their masses like they did, to vote. We don’t want Nigerians to be discouraged.

“There are certain things and principle of law that he knows that we need to explore and we strongly believe that when we get to the Supreme Court, it will have the opportunity to review a number of things that have been said here today.

“We have the instruction of our client to go to the Supreme Court. So, we have asked for the records. We have asked for the judgment. We are going to apply for the transmission of the records because we have a very limited time to push this.

“So, the struggle continues and as it is said, it is not over until it is over,” the lawyer said.

Many Nigerians agree with the LP and the PDP that the ruling of PEPT is a miscarriage of justice.

However, expressing their lack of trust in the Nigerian judicial system, many have preempted the parties’ decision to appeal the judgments, saying it would likely yield the same result.

Even though Artificial Intelligence only became a sensation recently, its history goes way back. The seeds of AI were sown in the 1950s when scientists began envisioning machines that could simulate human intelligence. There were pioneers like Alan Turing and John McCarthy who laid the foundation, leading to the development of the first AI program, the Logic Theorist, in 1956. This marked the beginning of the “Dartmouth workshop” and the term “Artificial Intelligence.”

If you look at this image, you can see the trend in using the word and its popularity. It started gradually in the 1950s and peaked in the 1990s before dropping for about a decade. And now, it is on the rise again.

The journey was not without hurdles. There was a long winter period in the development of AI during the 1970s and 1980s, a period of reduced funding and optimism due to unmet expectations. However, breakthroughs in the 1990s, like IBM’s Deep Blue defeating chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov, rekindled interest. The 21st century saw rapid advancements driven by increased computing power, big data, and innovative algorithms. And it was at this point that AI made its way into many high-end conversations.

Some of the AI’s Multifaceted Impact

Healthcare: In the healthcare sector, AI is revolutionizing diagnostics, treatment, and drug discovery. AI algorithms analyze medical images with unprecedented accuracy, assisting doctors in identifying diseases like cancer in their early stages. Personalized medicine is becoming a reality as AI interprets genetic information to tailor treatments. Moreover, AI-enabled robots already assist in surgeries, enhancing precision and reducing risks.

Finance: AI is reshaping the financial landscape by analyzing vast data to make swift and accurate predictions. Algorithmic trading uses AI to execute trades at optimal times, minimizing risks and maximizing returns. I am sure most people have heard of those who use AI-enabled BOTs to trade the financial markets.

Fraud detection systems also identify unusual transaction patterns, safeguarding financial institutions and customers. AI-powered robo-advisors offer investment advice to individuals, democratizing access to financial expertise.

Transportation: The automotive industry is at the forefront of AI-driven innovation with self-driving cars. AI processes real-time data from sensors and cameras to navigate roads, predict pedestrian behavior, and avoid collisions. Beyond cars, AI optimizes traffic flow in intelligent cities, reducing congestion and emissions. The transportation sector is on the cusp of a transformative revolution, promising safer and more efficient mobility.

Entertainment: AI is also doing its bit in the entertainment landscape, influencing everything from content creation to user experience. Streaming services already employ AI to recommend personalized content, enhancing user engagement. Creative industries use AI algorithms to compose music, generate art, and even write stories. With more improvement, we will get to the point where it becomes nearly impossible to distinguish music and stories written by AI. Video games also utilize AI for dynamic gameplay and lifelike characters, enhancing immersion.

What lies ahead?

The current AI landscape is characterized by machine learning, a subset of AI that empowers computers to learn from data. Deep learning, a subfield of machine learning, utilizes neural networks inspired by the human brain’s structure. These networks analyze vast datasets to recognize patterns, enabling tasks like image recognition and natural language processing. Explaining it for a 10-year-old, you may say that deep learning mimics how the brain works.

The future of AI holds exciting possibilities. Quantum computing could usher in an era of unprecedented computational power, revolutionizing AI capabilities. AI-driven advancements in medicine might lead to more accurate disease predictions and personalized treatments. Enhanced natural language processing could also bridge language barriers and foster global communication. As we pointed out in previous posts, we must not forget the ethical considerations that should accompany this rapid development.

The evolution of artificial intelligence has been nothing short of remarkable. From its humble beginnings as a theoretical concept, AI has become an integral part of various industries, leaving an indelible mark on society. Healthcare, finance, transportation, and entertainment have all witnessed the transformative power of AI. As we navigate the complexities of AI’s impact, it’s essential to approach its development with ethical considerations at the forefront.

The journey of AI is a testament to human ingenuity and innovation, and the path ahead promises a future where the boundaries of what’s possible continue to expand.