The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on, Wednesday, April 12, prayed the Presidential Election Petition Court sitting in Abuja to dismiss the petition filed by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging the election of Bola Tinubu in the February 25 presidential election.

The APC, the 4th respondent, urged the tribunal to reject the petition in its notice of preliminary objection marked: CA/PEPC/A/05/2023.

The party said the court has no jurisdiction to adjudicate on the petitioners’ allegation predicated on ground (D) in paragraph 16 of the petition and the related paragraph 146 which lacks necessary facts or particulars as required by paragraph 4 (1)(d) of the rules of procedure for election petitions ( 1st Schedule to the electoral Act 2022.

”The petitioners’ paragraph 146 in support of ground four on non qualification is vague, bare, and meaningless as having the constitutional threshold is not part of the requirement to contest any election,” the APC said.

The ruling party stated that allegations of non-compliance must be made distinctly and proved on polling unit basis.

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The party added that the petitioners did not provide the particulars of polling units where any irregularity or non-compliance took place.

”The petition as presently constituted, is devoid of necessary particulars to support allegations of corrupt practices, violence and, non-compliance with provisions of the electoral act.

”Paragraph 35 of the petition is not relevant or cognizable and 84 is vague as no specific figure or polling units are pleaded as the margin of lead to be countered by the respondent,” the APC said.

It, therefore, prayed the tribunal to dismiss or strike out the petitioners‘ petition for lack of merit.

Atiku and the PDP, in the petition dated March 21, claimed that Tinubu’s victory was as a result of alleged malpractices and other irregularities, upon which they are seeking the nullification of his victory.

Respondents in the petition marked: CA/PEPC/05/2023, are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tinubu, and the APC as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, respectively.

The petition is based on four major grounds amongst which are that the election of the 2nd Respondent is invalid by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

That the election of the 2nd respondent is invalid by reason of corrupt practices; that the 2nd respondent was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes cast at the election; and that the 2nd respondent was at the time of the election not qualified to contest the Election.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had declared Tinubu winner after securing majority of votes cast at the poll as Atiku came second, and while Peter Obi of the Labour Party came third.

According to INEC, Tinubu met the constitutional benchmark of scoring 25 per cent in two thirds of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Star