Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has taken determined legal action to challenge the election of President Bola Tinubu. He and his legal team, led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, have lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court of Nigeria. This appeal consists of 35 grounds, with the aim of overturning the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal on September 6.
The Court of Appeal’s judgment had affirmed Bola Tinubu, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as the valid winner of the presidential election that took place on February 25. Atiku contends that the decision of the Court of Appeal was not only erroneous but also resulted in a significant miscarriage of justice against him.
Atiku, a former Vice President of Nigeria, argues that the panel of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, made a legal error by failing to nullify the presidential election due to non-compliance with the Electoral Act of 2022. He asserts that the evidence presented during the proceedings clearly demonstrated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had violated existing laws and regulations governing the conduct of elections.
In addition to alleging non-compliance with the Electoral Act, Atiku accuses the PEPC panel of making errors in its interpretation and application of both the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act of 2022. These alleged misinterpretations and misrepresentations are central to his argument in seeking the Supreme Court’s intervention.
Atiku’s appeal to the Supreme Court reflects his determination to challenge the outcome of the presidential election and seek a reversal of the Court of Appeal’s decision in favor of Bola Tinubu. The legal process will play a pivotal role in determining the final outcome of this election dispute in Nigeria’s democratic process.
