The Supreme Court has up to the next 60 days to lay to rest all forms of litigation surrounding the disputed 2023 presidential election. Both Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour have announced their resolve to explore their constitutional right to explore legal options at the apex court
The Supreme Court has up to the next 60 days to lay to rest all forms of litigation surrounding the disputed 2023 presidential election. Both Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the PDP and Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour have announced their resolve to explore their constitutional right to explore legal options at the apex court to invalidate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory at the February 25 polls.
Certified True Copies of the judgement delivered on Wednesday by the Presidential Election Petition will be made available today (Friday) for the lawyers to proceed with their cases at the Supreme Court. Impressively, both Atiku and Obi have restated their confidence in the judiciary and are optimistic that Justice will be done in their matters.
In rejecting the judgement of the PEPC, Alhaji Atiku alleged that it was bereft of substantial justice while Peter Obi says he disagrees with the reasoning and conclusions in the judgement delivered. He added that “I do know that judgment is not coterminous with justice”.
From the statements by duo of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, they are still aggrieved and intensive legal fireworks to test some previous judgments by the apex court on matters ruled upon by the PEPC. Some of these would include constitutional interpretation of the status of FCT and its requirements in the declaration of a candidate winner of the presidential contest. The issue of double nomination is another matter. There are already pronouncements by the apex court on a similar matter in the past.
The Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi in a statement on his reasoning for proceeding to the Supreme Court, from Onitsha, Anambra state said:
“Yesterday, 6 September 2023, the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) finally delivered its long-awaited judgments on the Petitions challenging the outcome of the presidential election held on 25 February 2023.
“This judgment was delivered within the statutory time frame under the extant statutes. We acknowledge the Court’s contributions to due process and the seeming to strengthen our democracy.
“As petitioners in this case, we respect the views and rulings of the Court, but we disagree with the Court’s reasoning and conclusions in the judgment it delivered.
“It is my intention as a presidential candidate and the intention of the Labour Party to challenge this judgment by way of appeal immediately, as allowed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The PEPC has rendered its judgment, but that esteemed body is not the final arbiter. The responsibility now falls on the Supreme Court. I do know that judgment is not coterminous with justice.
“I implore Nigerians to remain focused, steadfast, and peaceful; abide by the rule of law, and understand that this matter has not reached its logical conclusion.
“Our legal team has already received our firm instruction to file an appeal against the decision. I shall not relent in the quest for justice, not necessarily for myself but indeed for our teeming supporters all over the country whose mandate to us at the polls was regrettably truncated by INEC.
“The strength and value of our democracy reside in solid national institutions and our confidence in them. Electoral litigations will be almost unnecessary and nonexistent if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) discharges its statutory functions creditably, transparently, and with discernible fairness.
“When that body fails, as it did recently, thus subverting the will of Nigerian voters, the recourse to the judiciary becomes imperative, as is now the case.
“I thank every Nigerian who has supported our cause and campaign for a New Nigeria characterized by fairness, equity, justice, the rule of law, peace, prosperity, inclusiveness, sustainable growth, and development.
“A New Nigeria is possible and achievable. I especially thank our legal team, the Labour Party and Obidient Family, and all those who showed up daily during the court trials. God bless you all, and God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had earlier stated his grounds for heading to the Supreme Court. He believes “the last presidential election in our country and the way it was managed by the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, leaves behind unenviable precedents, which I believe the courts have a duty to redress”
He posits that the PEPC judgement for him, was like “losing the battle which is less in importance than losing the war. We have to win the war of restoring confidence in our electoral system”. He said elections should reflect the wish of the electorate. “My ultimate goal in this pursuit is to ensure that democracy is further strengthened through the principles and processes of fair hearing”.
“Consequently, I have asked my lawyers to activate my constitutionally guaranteed rights of appeal to the higher court, which, in the instance, is the Supreme Court. It is my conviction that the electoral process in Nigeria should be devoid of untidy manipulations and that the outcome of every election should be a perfect reflection of the wishes of the electorate. I believe that such is the only way through which our democracy can have a manifest expression of its true meaning. Whether I prevail in this quest or not, the record of my effort in ensuring an order of credible elections in Nigeria shall remain for the future generations to evaluate”.
Under the law, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have the next sixty days to prove their cases after which the curtain will be drawn on all litigations concerning the 2023 presidential election.
