The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has affirmed the election of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over his rivals, Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) respectively.
Tinubu’s victory was affirmed by the Five-man Panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court led by Justice Haruna Tsammani on Wednesday in Abuja.
Giving the judgment, Justice Tsammani’s panel rejected Peter Obi’s position on Tinubu’s Forfeiture of $460,000 in the USA drug case.
He said, the Petitioners failed to substantiate their evidence that Tinubu was not qualified to run for election for merely being fined the sum of $460,000 in the USA.
He further ruled that LP and its candidate, Mr. Peter Obi were unable to prove that INEC deliberately refused to upload the results on IREV, ruling that INEC has the right to conduct an election in any manner it deems fit and cannot be compelled to electronically transmit results.
The panel held that LP’s Widespread Irregularities Claim Generic – The Court while highlighting a claim by the respondents, said that Obi’s petition only alleged that there were widespread irregularities without giving the particulars and the polling units.
On FCT, he said, the 25% FCT votes Interpretation by LP ‘Fallacious.’ Ruling that FCT is not superior to any state of the federation since the law says it should be treated like any other state.
In a related ruling, the PEPC dismissed the petition filed by the PDP and its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar for lacking merit thereby affirming the election of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The PEPC Struck Out Atiku’s Dual Citizen Petition Against President Tinubu and ruled that both President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima are fit, proper, and qualified to be elected President and Vice President.
Justice Tsammani said, “This petition accordingly lacks merit. I affirm the return of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the duly elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The parties are to bear their cost”.
In a swift reaction, the Labour Party rejected the judgment, saying that justice was not served and it did not reflect the law and the desire of the people.
In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, the Party said, 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.
It however, vowed not to relent until the people prevail, adding that its position would be presented after due consultation with its lawyers.
“What is at stake is democracy and we will not relent until the people 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 Judgement.
“We urge all lovers of democracy to remain focused and hopeful because a new Nigeria is possible”, the party said.
