Nigeria has witnessed a series of presidential election petitions since the return to civilian rule in 1999, marking each electoral cycle with legal challenges and courtroom drama.
The Court of Appeal serves as the official venue for presidential election petition cases, as outlined in the First Schedule of the Electoral Act 2022.
The 2023 presidential election, contested by the Allied Peoples Movement, the Peoples Democratic Party, and the Labour Party, along with their respective candidates, is the latest instance.
The much-anticipated verdict from the Presidential Election Petition Court is expected to be delivered today at the Court of Appeal in the Three Arms zone, Abuja.
Here’s a summary of past presidential election petitions in Nigeria since 1999:
1999: Falae vs Obasanjo
In Nigeria’s inaugural elections of the Fourth Nigerian Republic on February 27, 1999, Olusegun Obasanjo of the People’s Democratic Party emerged victorious. He defeated Olu Falae, who ran on a ticket jointly sponsored by the Alliance for Democracy and the All People’s Party.
Dissatisfied with the results, Falae filed a suit at the Court of Appeal in Abuja, challenging Obasanjo’s victory. However, he lost the case in an April 19, 1999 ruling, with Justice Dahiru Musdapher concluding that “The petition lacks merit and ought to be dismissed.”
2003: Buhari vs Obasanjo
General Muhammadu Buhari, the All Nigeria Peoples Party’s presidential candidate, contested President Olusegun Obasanjo’s re-election in 2003. However, his petition was denied by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja.
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Buhari alleged that Obasanjo’s re-election was unconstitutional due to corruption, disregard for the Electoral Act of 2002, and lack of eligibility. He also took his case to the Supreme Court, which upheld the tribunal’s ruling.
2007: Buhari and Atiku vs Yar’Adua
Despite domestic and foreign observers’ declarations that the 2007 presidential election results fell short of international standards, Umaru Yar’Adua emerged victorious.
Both Atiku Abubakar and Muhammadu Buhari challenged the election in court, but the Supreme Court ultimately affirmed Yar’Adua’s victory.
2011: Buhari vs Jonathan
In the presidential election of April 16, 2011, Buhari, the Congress for Progressive Change nominee, was unsuccessful in his attempt to overturn President Goodluck Jonathan’s victory.
The Supreme Court upheld Jonathan’s win.
2019: Atiku vs Buhari
The 2019 presidential election featured Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress.
Following a Court of Appeal ruling on September 11, 2019, Buhari’s re-election was upheld. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled on October 30, 2019, that Atiku’s case was without merit.
2023: Obi and Atiku vs Tinubu
The 2023 election saw the Peoples Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party’s Peter Obi challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the nation’s next president. Atiku declared the election the worst since Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999 and disputed the results.
Peter Obi submitted a petition contesting Tinubu’s designation as the winner of the February 25 presidential election. If dissatisfied with the tribunal’s decision, either party may file an appeal with the Supreme Court. The tribunal’s decision, as the highest appellate body, is final.