The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has started delivering of judgment in the case brought before it by Peter Obi and the Labour Party, challenging the outcome of the presidential election, which saw President Bola Tinubu emerge victorious.
Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, and his party, the Labour Party (LP), lodged this petition against President Tinubu’s win in the February 25, 2023, presidential election.
Justice Abba Mohammed, a member of the tribunal’s five-member panel, is currently reading the lead judgment. His initial focus has been on addressing preliminary motions challenging the competence of certain aspects of the petition.
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The case, marked CA/PEPC/03/2023, centers on the election that propelled President Tinubu to power on May 29. The respondents in the petition include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The petitioners have alleged irregularities in the election and have stated their intention to rely on spreadsheets, inspection reports, and forensic analysis that were submitted with the petition during the trial.
However, Justice Mohammed has pointed out that the promised documents from the petitioners were not attached to the petition nor served on the respondents.
Meanwhile, the Court also declared APC’s petition challenging Obi’s membership of the LP as incompetent.
Justice Abba says membership in a political party is an internal affair.
The Tribunal also touched on the issue of non-joinder of Atiku Abubakar who came second and wondered how Obi & LP’s petition could be effectively determined without joining the candidate who placed second in the polls
Further details will be provided as the judgment delivery continues.
