The Supreme Court of Nigeria will on Thursday 26th October 2023, deliver judgement on the Appeals filed by the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar and his counterpart of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi against the declaration of President Bola Tinubu.
The Supreme Court Director of Information, Dr. Festus Akande made confirmation to judiciary correspondents via a telephone call.
The former Vice President and Obi are challenging the judgments of the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC which upheld the election of President Bola Tinubu.
On Monday 23rd October, counsels to Atiku and Obi addressed the Apex court where justice Inyang Okoro led seven member panel.
At the hearing on Monday, counsel to Atiku and PDP Mr. Chris Uche SAN, submitted application seeking an order granting him leave to produce and for the court to receive fresh and additional evidence by way of deposition on oath from the Chicago State University for use in this appeal.
Meanwhile, Obi and the LP, through their lawyers led by Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, urged the court to uphold the appeal and set aside the judgement of the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, that dismissed their petition.
Obi and the LP further faulted the PEPC for dismissing their case on the ground that, they did not specify the figures of votes or scores that were allegedly suppressed or inflated in favour of President Tinubu and the APC.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court had on Monday 23 dismissed the appeal by Allied People’s Movement APM.
Justice Inyang Okoro dismissed the appeal after it’s dramatic withdrawal by counsel to APM Chukwuma Umeh.
Additional Materials
Recall that before the Supreme Court hearing on Monday, Atiku has filed additional materials, including the recent deposition of the registrar of the Chicago State University, to support his arguments that Tinubu submitted false academic claims in his INEC nomination form.
Tinubu’s lawyers, on the other hand, have asked the apex court to ignore the submissions of Atiku on the grounds that the statutory period for the submission of evidence has since closed.
Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu had declared President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the winner of the February 25th 2023 Presidential election based on the results collated, of which the Presidential candidates of other parties like the PDP, LP and the APM were not satisfied with the results and headed to the PEPC.
After the PEPC judgement which declared President Bola Tinubu winner, the parties were still not satisfied, therefore they headed to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has until November 6, 2023, to give a final judgment on the appeal.
Confidence Okwuchi
