Photo: President Bola Tinubu
Breaking: S’Court reserves judgment in Atiku, Obi’s petitions against Tinubu
The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the petition filed by the 2023 presidential election candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, seeking to void the declaration of President Bola Tinubu as winner.
Justice Inyang Okoro, who led a 7-man panel of Justices of the Court in Monday’s proceedings, announced reservation of the final judgment after taking arguments from lawyers in the matter.
Justice Okoro said parties in the matter would be communicated as soon as the judgment date was fixed.
At Monday’s proceedings at the Supreme Court, Atiku prayed the apex court to nullify Tinubu’s participation in the the 2023 presidential election, insisting that was not Constitutionally qualified to stand for the election at the time he did.
Atiku’s lead counsel, Chris Uche SAN, prayed the apex court to invoke the provisions of the Constitution to annul Tinubu’s inclusion in the election, predicating his request for Tinubu’s disqualification on his alleged certificate forgery and lying on oath.
In the absence of outright disqualification, Atiku pleaded with the Justice John Inyang Okoro-led panel to order a rerun between him and Tinubu.
Tinubu, through his lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun SAN, however, asked the court to dismiss Atiku’s claims of certificate forgery and lying on oath.
The senior lawyer insisted that Atiku’s allegations are unsubstantiated and cannot enjoy any probate value until proven beyond reasonable doubt as required by law.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, represented by Abubakar Mahmoud SAN, also canvassed that Atiku’s petition be thrown out for want of merit.
The All Progressives Congress, APC, led by Chief Akin Olujinmi SAN, adopted the position of Olanipekun in calling for dismissal of the petition.
