President Bola Tinubu, through his lawyers, has responded to the appeal made by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, stating that it lacks merit, substance, and genuine intent.
Tinubu, in his response conveyed by his lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, regarding Obi’s appeal challenging the tribunal’s decision, argued that the presidential election was conducted peacefully throughout the nation, and the election results were accurately recorded in the various INEC’s EC8A forms.
He went on to emphasize that the entire petition appeared more as a media spectacle than a courtroom proceeding. Tinubu asserted that the lower court, functioning as a court of law rather than sentiments, had rightfully dismissed the petition after a thorough examination, concluding that it indeed lacked merit, substance, and good faith when scrutinized from all perspectives.
“Be it noted that, unlike previous election petitions over which this honourable court has presided (in time past) and made far-reaching pronouncements on diverse issues, including but not limited to ballot box snatching, vote buying, voters’ intimidation, interference by the military, thuggery, ballot stuffing, violence, disenfranchisement, non-recording of votes in form EC8A, which is the building block or the base of the pyramid, and such other electoral vices, this appeal arising from a dismissed petition, the main grouse of which is that, while the presidential election was peacefully conducted all over the country, and results of elections carefully and accurately recorded in the various form EC8As, some unidentified and unspecified results, even in the appellants’ brief were not uploaded electronically to the IREV portal. ”
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He noted that Obi failed to prove his allegations of non-compliance and corrupt practices as required by law.
Tinubu said, “Instructively, however, the lower court, appreciating that it is not a court of final instance, proceeded to determine the petition on its merit, while itemising several monumental failures of the petitioners to provide any evidence in support of their much-touted case.
“While affirming the election and declaration of the 2nd respondent at the referenced presidential election, the lower court also found that the appellants did not prove any of their allegations on the requisite standards of proof. ”
In his reply on the 25 percent requirement in the FCT, Tinubu told the apex court that Obi was on a “fishing expedition”.
He said, “The other very remote contention is that the 2nd respondent did not score 25 percent of the votes recorded at the Federal Capital Territory.
“With much respect to the appellants, the petition is more of a fishing expedition; much more of evocation of thunder without dews. ”
Tinubu, however, said the tribunal judgment was in order, adding that, “It is against the well-considered judgment of the lower court that the appellants have brought this appeal.”
