Today, a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court is set to hear the appeals lodged by Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, challenging the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court that upheld President Bola Tinubu’s election.
Members of this panel, though yet to be identified, will scrutinize the appeals from Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party, and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), all contesting the election victory of President Tinubu from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja, presided over by Haruna Tsammani, had previously ruled against Atiku and Peter Obi, asserting that they failed to substantiate their claims of widespread electoral irregularities during the February 25 presidential election, conducted by Nigeria’s electoral commission, INEC. In a similar vein, the court dismissed another petition by the APM, deeming it without merit.
Atiku, Peter Obi, and the APM subsequently filed separate appeals to challenge the court’s decisions.
These appeals touch on several issues, including President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima’s eligibility, the allegation that President Tinubu failed to secure 25 per cent of valid votes in Abuja, INEC’s alleged failure to electronically transmit polling unit results in real-time, and allegations of vote manipulation in President Tinubu’s favor.
Another point of contention before the Supreme Court’s seven-member panel is the authenticity of President Tinubu’s academic records, which were obtained from Chicago State University (CSU) in October by Atiku.
Atiku has already submitted the President’s educational records to the court, urging a thorough examination of their authenticity.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Wole Olanipekun, who is representing President Tinubu, has asserted that Atiku and Peter Obi’s appeals lack substance.
This hearing at the Supreme Court draws considerable public interest, as witnessed during the earlier case at the Court of Appeal.
Atiku has said his decision to pursue the legal route stems from his commitment to upholding the principles of democracy, transparency, and fair hearings.
“The last presidential election in our country and the way it was managed by the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), leaves behind unenviable precedents, which I believe the courts have a duty to redress.
“Our gains in ensuring transparent elections through the deployment of technology was heavily compromised by INEC in the way it managed the last presidential election, and I am afraid that the judgement of the court, as rendered by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal yesterday, failed to restore confidence in our dreams of free and fair elections devoid of human manipulations.”
“I refuse to accept the tribunal judgment because I believe that it is bereft of substantial justice. However, the disappointment in the verdict of the court can never destroy my confidence in the judiciary,” Atiku said.