Legal Intrigues as Tinubu, Atiku, Obi Resume Presidential Battle at Supreme Court Today
Legal Intrigues as Tinubu, Atiku, Obi Resume Presidential Battle at Supreme Court Today
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his political rivals, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi, and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), are set to continue their legal battle for the presidency today at the Supreme Court.
Tinubu’s aides and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are hoping for a favorable ruling from the apex court.
Atiku, the PDP’s presidential candidate in the February 26 election, Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and the APM have filed separate appeals at the Supreme Court, seeking to nullify President Tinubu’s election.
INCNews247 recalls that the Supreme Court has officially communicated the hearing date through notices sent to all parties last Thursday.
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In addition to challenging the verdict of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), which upheld Tinubu’s election, Atiku has also filed a request to present a copy of Tinubu’s academic records from the Chicago State University (CSU), USA, alleging that Tinubu submitted a forged CSU certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Atiku is also attempting to compel a Washington, D.C. court to order the FBI to release documents related to President Tinubu’s $460,000 forfeiture case.
The PDP expressed optimism that its appeal will succeed at the Supreme Court.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP cited the Constitution and relevant sections of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) as the basis for its confidence.
Ologunagba stated, “The PDP believes that the issues of the February 2023 Presidential election; the violation of rules and laws, manipulations, and falsifications in our electoral process have put our democracy in a precarious situation.”
“The earnest expectation of Nigerians and lovers of democracy across the world is that the Supreme Court will use this case to firmly validate the maxim that the Judiciary is the last hope of the common man.
“Nigerians are therefore optimistic in hoping that the Supreme Court will dispense substantial Justice according to law and fact in the Appeal.”
Meanwhile, Mr. Bayo Onanugta, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, has accused followers of Atiku and Obi of attempting to influence a change in the FBI’s earlier order to release documents related to President Tinubu’s 1993 forfeiture case.
All the appellants are seeking to set aside the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), which affirmed Tinubu as the valid winner of the February 25 presidential election.
While Atiku, with a team of 67 lawyers, filed 35 grounds of appeal, Obi, with his legal team, filed 51 grounds of appeal before the Supreme Court. The APM has lodged a 10-ground appeal to invalidate President Tinubu’s election.
Each of the appellants is determined to challenge the verdict of the PEPC and present their case before the Supreme Court.
Meantime, President Tinubu, the APC, and INEC have urged the apex court to dismiss the appeals, arguing that they lack merit. President Tinubu also opposes Atiku’s application to present a copy of his certificate from the Chicago State University.
The legal battle for the presidency continues, with both sides presenting their arguments before the Supreme Court.