President Bola Tinubu has described the appeal filed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to challenge his victory in the 2023 presidential election as ‘abusive’ in nature, he consequently told the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal.
The President agreed that the tribunal was correct in arriving at its verdict and affirming his election while insisting that the PDP presidential candidate (Atiku) and his party failed to prove all their allegations and submissions at the Tribunal.
He urged the high court to reject the entire appeal because it lacked merit and was not genuine while upholding the lower court’s ruling.
The Matrix recalls that a petition contesting the results of the February 25, 2023, presidential election was submitted by Atiku and the PDP.
The petitioners claimed that, among other things, the election had been tainted by irregularities and serious violations of the Electoral Act.
Additionally, they claimed that Kashim Shettima, Tinubu’s vice, and others did not win the election with a majority of the valid votes cast since they were ineligible to run.
However, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal determined in its ruling on September 6 that Atiku had failed to substantiate all of the allegations in his appeal.
The petitioners, among several other issues raised, alleged that the election was marred with irregularities and substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
They also alleged that Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima, were not qualified to contest and did not win the election by the majority of lawful votes cast.
The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, in its judgment on September 6, however, held that Atiku failed to prove all the averments in his petition.
The PDP candidate subsequently filed an appeal before the apex court on September 18, 2023.
In the 35 grounds notice of appeal, the appellants submitted that the Tribunal’s findings were done with “grave errors and gross misrepresentation” which resulted in a miscarriage of justice.
Consequently, the appellants are praying for the Supreme Court to set aside the entire findings and conclusions of the tribunal.
