Atiku Approaches Supreme Court, Seeks Nullification Of Tribunal Verdict

Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has escalated his legal battle by approaching the Supreme Court to challenge the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court. The move comes after the petition court, on September 6, upheld the victory of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), in the 2023 presidential election. Atiku’s Notice of Appeal, consisting of 35 grounds, asserts that the tribunal’s judgment, delivered by Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, was marred by serious errors and a miscarriage of justice. These errors and mis-judgments, according to Atiku’s lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, warrant the Supreme Court’s intervention to rectify the situation. The Notice of Appeal seeks to have the Supreme Court set aside the entire findings and conclusions of the tribunal, as Atiku believes they do not accurately represent the substance of his petition. One of the key arguments put forth by the former Vice President is that the Tribunal erred in law by failing to nullify the presidential election conducted on February 25, 2023. This non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022, is alleged to be rooted in INEC’s conduct of the election, which, according to evidence presented to the tribunal, was characterized by grave and gross misrepresentation. This misrepresentation is deemed contrary to the principles outlined in the Electoral Act 2022 and runs counter to the “doctrine of legitimate expectation.” Atiku’s appeal to the Supreme Court signals his determination to exhaust all legal avenues available to challenge the tribunal’s judgment and contest the declaration of Tinubu as President by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Just In: Labour Party rejects Tribunal’s verdict, promises legal consultation

The leadership of the Labour Party has officially rejected the verdict handed down by the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, following the dismissal of their petitions by the panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani. In a swift reaction to the tribunal’s judgment, the National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, issued a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, stating their firm rejection of the outcome. The party’s petitions had been dismissed by the tribunal, which referred to them as being “clearly based on rhetoric.” The Labour Party had raised several claims in its petitions, including the nullification of Bola Tinubu’s declaration as the election winner due to his failure to secure 25 percent of the votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), doubts about Tinubu’s eligibility following legal issues in the United States, and allegations of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s failure to transmit election results to the INEC election results viewer, among other issues. While urging its supporters to remain calm, Obiora Ifoh hinted at the party’s intention to consult with its legal team before making a final decision on the next course of action. He emphasized, “The Labour Party watched with dismay and trepidation the dismissal of petitions by the five-man panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court… 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.” Ifoh also acknowledged the party’s legal team for their unwavering dedication and commitment in the face of a challenging legal battle. He concluded by expressing the party’s determination to pursue the cause of democracy in Nigeria, promising that the party’s official position would be communicated after a thorough review of the Certified True Copy of the judgment. The statement concluded with an encouraging message, emphasizing that “a new Nigeria is ‘POssible’,” and called on all supporters of democracy to remain focused and hopeful in the pursuit of justice.