PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PETITION: SHETTIMA LAUDS JUDGEMENT AS ATIKU AND OBI HEADS TO SUPREME COURT
The presidential candidates of Nigeria's opposition People's Democratic Party and Labour party, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi say they will appeal the judgement of the court of appeal which upheld the Victory of President Tinubu The presidential elections petitions court reaffirmed the victory of the president by striking out the petitions filed by the Labour Party, PDP, and APM for lacking in merit and substantial evidence to prove widespread irregularities and non-compliance to electoral guidelines. The court room was filled with eminent personalities as everyone was eager to hear the judgement of the presidential court. On the petitions, the tribunal said the petitioners only made generic accusations of infractions, irregularities in the election, claiming to have scored majority of lawful votes but failed to specify the anomaly, the places where it occurred and those affected. The court in ruling on the narcotic charges preferred against Tinubu, the twenty five percent FCT votes, academic qualifications, double nomination of Shettima, INEC'S non transmission or results said the petitioners did not bring in any evidence to support the above issues raised and hence were struck out. Speaking on the rulings, the petitioners said they will appeal the judgement at the supreme court as the petition challenging Tinubu's victory is to save Nigeria's democracy. The counsel also explained some of the hurdles encountered in Proving their cases with regards to Nigeria's electoral umpire not providing some of the documents they needed to prosecute their case. Reacting to the judgement, Nigeria's vice President said the victory is for democracy and that the Judiciary has proved to be guidance of justice. While stating that the will of Nigerians have prevailed, he called on the other candidates to join the Tinubu led government to tackle the issues confronting the nation. It is expected that now Tinubu's administration has gotten the required legal Legitimacy, he will now concentrate on delivering his promises to Nigerians.
