The Nigerian Supreme Court has formed a seven-member panel of justices to hear the appeals brought by Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), challenging the questionable outcome of the February 25, 2023 presidential election allegedly won by Bola Tinubu.
The court confirmed this through hearing notices sent to the parties’ counsels recently
Atiku and Obi, dissatisfied with the Presidential Election Petition Court’s (PEPC) decision affirming Tinubu’s victory, filed separate petitions urging the Apex Court to set aside PEPC’s judgment and nullify Tinubu’s win.
Atiku presented new evidence from Chicago State University, seeking Tinubu’s disqualification. The Supreme Court justices tasked with deciding the case include Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad, Justice Uwani Musa Abba Aji, Justice Lawal Garba, Justice Helen M. Ogunwumiju, Justice I. N. Saulawa, Justice Tijjani Abubakar, and Justice Emmanuel Agim.
Additionally, the Supreme Court announced October 23rd as the start date for hearing the case against the Independent National Electoral Commission, Tinubu, and Kashim Shettima. Atiku submitted materials, including the Chicago State University registrar’s deposition, aiming to prove Tinubu’s false academic claims in his INEC nomination form. Tinubu’s lawyers argued that Atiku’s submissions came after the deadline.
Atiku’s appeal highlighted alleged irregularities in the election, the 25% requirement in the FCT, $460,000 forfeiture, and INEC’s failure to transmit results from polling units to IREV using BVAS as per its laws. Atiku also sought permission to file Tinubu’s alleged forged academic records.
Obi contested the tribunal’s rejection of his 18,088 polling units’ blurred results, while APM’s Chichi Ojei argued for Tinubu and Shettima’s disqualification due to invalid nomination.
Tinubu, defending his victory, labeled Atiku’s petition as an abuse of court process, and Obi’s as lacking merit. The Supreme Court is expected to deliver its final judgment by November 6, 2023.
IMAGE: Champion News
