Supreme Court to Hear Ambrose Owuru’s Motion Seeking President Tinubu’s Removal

The Supreme Court is set to hear an urgent motion on Monday seeking the removal of President Bola Tinubu, following a case filed by Ambrose Owuru, the 2019 presidential candidate of the now-defunct Hope Democratic Party (HDP). Known for his unconventional approach to presidential election litigation, Owuru filed the motion on November 25, challenging the decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja that dismissed his case in May 2023.

Owuru’s motion stems from his ongoing grievances related to the 2019 presidential election. The Court of Appeal had dismissed his appeal, describing it as frivolous and irritating, just days before Tinubu’s inauguration. Despite this, Owuru has persisted, arguing that new revelations about Tinubu’s past activities should disqualify him from office. He claims that Tinubu’s alleged involvement with the CIA and the forfeiture of $460,000 in the United States over drug trafficking allegations make him unfit to serve as president.

Although Owuru did not contest the 2023 election, he contends that his mandate from the 2019 election was wrongfully taken by former President Muhammadu Buhari. He maintains that he was the rightful winner but his case was dismissed by the Supreme Court due to procedural errors. He is now asking the Supreme Court to remove Tinubu from office, citing constitutional grounds and foreign interference, and to restore his own mandate.

Owuru’s history of pursuing unorthodox legal challenges began after the 2015 presidential election, when he sought to shorten Buhari’s tenure, arguing that Buhari’s campaign expenses exceeded legal limits. He also sought to dissolve Buhari’s government and create a new national unity government headed by himself. In the 2019 election, Owuru again attempted to challenge the results, claiming he won a separate “referendum” and seeking to stop Buhari’s inauguration. His suit was dismissed by the Supreme Court as frivolous.

After Tinubu’s victory in 2023, Owuru filed another lawsuit, insisting that he was the true winner of the 2019 election and that his mandate was stolen. The case was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, which described it as a gross abuse of court process and imposed heavy fines on Owuru. He is now challenging that decision at the Supreme Court, seeking a final resolution to his claims.