The Presidential Election Petitions Court upheld President Bola Tinubu’s election as the President of Nigeria. The verdict, delivered on Wednesday, marks a significant milestone for the All Progressives Congress (APC) leader.
The central question before the court was whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was justified in declaring Tinubu as the rightful winner of the February 25, 2023, presidential election. The court concluded that the petitioner, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, failed to substantiate their claims and allegations against the election results.
Justice Haruna Tsammani, who led the five-member panel, stated unequivocally, “This petition lacks merit. I confirm Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the duly elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The parties are responsible for their own costs.”
Furthermore, the court ruled to remove 37 exhibits presented by witnesses from the official records. Concerning the alleged mishandling of documents, the judge clarified that it would only impact the credibility of the evidence presented.
The contentious issues of Tinubu’s prior conviction and dual citizenship, which had been debated during the proceedings, were once again dismissed by the Tribunal as incompetent and subsequently struck out.
This ruling solidifies Bola Tinubu’s position as the President of Nigeria, affirming the electoral process and the victory of the All Progressives Congress in the 2023 presidential election.
