The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) sitting in Abuja today 6th September, 2023 in a consolidated ruling dismissed the petitions filed by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party.
In a judgment led by Justice Haruna Tsamani which lasted for about 12 Hours, PEPC first dismissed the petition filed by the Allied Peoples Movement for lack of merit.
PEPC Held that Allied Peoples Movement Lacks the Locus Standi to Institute Matters bothering on Nomination and sponsorship of Vice President, Kashim Shetimma thereby affirming that the Vice President is qualified to be nominated and elected as Vice President.
PEPC also ruled that the nomination and qualification of Candidate in an Election is a Pre-election Matter.
It said only an Aspirant that contest the Primaries can challenge the nomination of a Candidate and that must be done within 14 days from the date of the election. No Political party can do that.

The PEPC also Struck out Labour Party’s Petition Against the Victory of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2023 Presidential Election for lack of merit.

“Labour Party filed a petition on electoral malpractices in most polling units but couldn’t prove any malpractices in any polling unit”.

“Peter Obi and LP claimed to have scored the majority of lawful votes cast, they failed to state the number of lawful votes they scored.
The determination of election is about figures”

They also failed to prove that their votes were suppressed by failing to specify the number of votes suppressed” PEPC Held.
Though the PEPC ruled that the APC’s Petition Challenging Peter Obi’s LP Membership incompetent saying Peter Obi is a Member of the Labour Party, it declared that the testimonies of 10 out of 13 witnesses called by the petitioners, Obi and Labour Party are worthless and struck them out.

PEPC Dismissed Petition of Peter Obi/LP on 25% of FCT required to win Presidential election, it ruled that FCT Citizens Doesn’t enjoy special privileges ahead of other States and held that the motion is irrelevant.

PEPC ruled that Labour Party in its Petition failed to specify alleged electoral malpractices during the conduct of the 2023 Presidential Election.

On electronic transmission of results, PEPC ruled that INEC is at liberty to determine mode Of transmitting election results.
On the Drug Case Filed By Peter Obi Against President Bola Tinubu, the PEPC said “The Nigeria Police, through its IGP, had written to the US to confirm the criminal status of Bola Tinubu and the US government had replied in 2003 stating that Bola Tinubu had no criminal records in the US. Therefore, the court admits this evidence”

In another related ruling, the PEPC dismissed the petition filed by the PDP and its Presidential Candidate, Alh. Atiku Abubakar for lacking merit thereby affirming the election of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The PEPC Struck Out Atiku’s Dual Citizen Petition Against President Tinubu and ruled that both President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima are fit, proper and qualified to be elected President and Vice President.

Justice Tsammani said, “This petition accordingly lacks merit. I affirm the return of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the duly elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The parties are to bear their cost”.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has swiftly reacted to the outcome of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal ruling which affirmed his victory.
He applauded the diligence, undaunted thoroughness, and professionalism of the five-member bench, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani in interpreting the law.
President Tinubu in a press statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale assured Nigerians of his renewed and energized focus on delivering his vision of a unified, peaceful and prosperous nation, following the judgment by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja.

While welcoming the judgment of the Tribubal with an intense sense of solemn responsibility and preparedness to serve all Nigerians, irrespective of all diverse political persuasions, faiths, and tribal identities, President Tinubu disclosed that Presidential Candidates and Political Parties that have lawfully exercised their rights by participating in the 2023 general elections and the judicial process, which followed, have affirmed Nigeria’s democratic credentials.

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Nigeria’s President Tinubu Wins Big as Tribunal Affirms His Victory