Supreme Court reserves judgement in Atiku, Obi’s appeals against Tinubu

The Supreme Court has reserved judgement in the appeal filed by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, challenging the election of President Bola Tinubu.

The Supreme Court also reserved judgement in the appeal filed by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, challenging the election of Tinubu.

The seven-man panel led by Justice Inyang Okoro, after hearing both appeals on Monday, October 23, 2023, said the date for the judgement would be communicated to the parties.

Other justices on the panel are Justice Uwani Abaji, Justice Lawal Garba, Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, Justice Adamu Jauro, Justice Tijani Abubakar, and Justice Emma Agim.

In Atiku’s notice of appeal predicated on 35 grounds, he told the apex court that the tribunal erred on the side of law in the judgement delivered by the chairman of the panel, Justice Haruna Tsammani.

Atiku, through his lead counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), told the court that the judgement of the tribunal was a miscarriage of justice.

He argued that the lower court also erred in law when it failed to nullify the February 25 presidential election on the grounds of non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022.

The former Vice President said by the evidence before the court, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conducted the election based on grave and gross misrepresentation contrary to the principles of the Electoral Act 2022, based on the doctrine of legitimate expectation.

Atiku, therefore, asked the Supreme Court to set aside the whole findings and conclusions of the PEPC on the grounds that they did not represent the true picture of the grounds of his petition.

Obi, on the other hand through his lead counsel, Levi Uzoukwu, SAN, also prayed the apex court to set aside the judgement of the tribunal that dismissed his petition.

Uzoukwu prayed the court to allow the appeal of his client and grant all the prayers sought.

In their responses, counsel for the respondents – INEC, President Tinubu, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) – urged the court to dismiss the appeals for lack of merit and for being frivolous.

Tinubu’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN), described the appeals as lacking in merit.

Olanipekun told the court that the appeal filed by Atiku was abusive in nature and asked the court to dismiss the appeal.

Atiku and Obi are before the apex court challenging September 6 judgement of the tribunal which dismissed their petitions challenging the victory of Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.

The Star

Segun Ojo