How Tinubu Secured His Presidential Victory At The Tribunal

After months of legal battles, the Presidential Elections Petition Tribunal (PEPT) finally delivered its verdict on Wednesday, September 6, 2023.

iexclusivenews reports that the tribunal upheld the election of Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s president in the February 23, 2023 polls, dismissing the petitions filed by three opposition parties.

The tribunal, headed by Haruna Tsammani, a judge of the Court of Appeal, ruled that the petitions lacked merit and failed to prove any substantial irregularities or non-compliance with the electoral laws.

The tribunal also affirmed the validity of Kashim Shettima’s nomination as Tinubu’s running mate, rejecting the claims that he was not qualified to contest.

The judgement was delivered in a packed courtroom at the Court of Appeal Headquarters in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), and its supporters celebrated the victory, while the opposition parties and their supporters expressed disappointment and vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The Petitions

The tribunal heard petitions from three opposition parties: the Labour Party (LP), led by Peter Obi, a former governor of Anambra State; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president; and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), led by Kingsley Moghalu, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The petitioners challenged Tinubu’s election on various grounds, such as:

– Overvoting and manipulation of results in some states, especially in the South-West region where Tinubu hails from.

– Non-compliance with the constitutional requirement of securing at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

– Invalid nomination of Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate, alleging that he did not meet the age and educational qualifications stipulated by the constitution.

– Perjury and false declaration by Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that he lied about his citizenship and educational credentials.

The petitioners presented various witnesses and documentary evidence to support their allegations, but they were countered by the respondents: Tinubu, Shettima, APC and INEC.

The Ruling

The tribunal dismissed each of the petitions one after another, stating that they were either incompetent, defective or lacking in proof. The tribunal held that:

– The petitioners did not provide any credible evidence of overvoting or manipulation of results in any state. The tribunal said that the petitioners relied on hearsay and speculation, and failed to call any polling unit agents or electoral officials who could testify to their claims. The tribunal also said that the petitioners did not tender any certified true copies of the result sheets or smart card reader reports to substantiate their allegations.

– The petitioners did not prove that Tinubu did not meet the constitutional requirement of securing at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the states and the FCT. The tribunal said that the petitioners did not challenge or dispute the results declared by INEC in any state or FCT. The tribunal also said that Tinubu satisfied the requirement by scoring more than 25 per cent in 28 states and FCT, out of 37 states and FCT.

– The petitioners did not prove that Shettima was not validly nominated as Tinubu’s running mate. The tribunal said that Shettima met the age and educational qualifications stipulated by the constitution. The tribunal also said that Shettima’s nomination was duly approved by APC’s National Executive Committee and National Convention, and accepted by INEC.

– The petitioners did not prove that Tinubu committed perjury or false declaration to INEC. The tribunal said that Tinubu did not lie about his citizenship or educational credentials. The tribunal also said that Tinubu’s affidavit was not challenged or contradicted by any evidence from INEC or any other source.

The tribunal concluded that Tinubu was duly elected as Nigeria’s president in accordance with the electoral laws. The tribunal also awarded costs against the petitioners for filing frivolous petitions.

The Reaction

The verdict sparked mixed reactions across the country. Tinubu’s supporters hailed the judgement as a victory for democracy and justice, while his opponents condemned it as a travesty and injustice.

Tinubu, who was on an official trip to India for a summit, issued a statement thanking Nigerians for their support and prayers. He also called on all

He also called on all Nigerians to unite and work together for the progress and development of the country.

He said he was ready to work with the opposition parties and listen to their constructive criticisms.

The petitioners, however, expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict and vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land.

They said they had enough evidence to prove that Tinubu’s election was rigged and fraudulent. They also accused the tribunal of bias and compromise.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear the appeal within 60 days from the date of the tribunal’s judgement.

The apex court will have the final say on the matter and its decision will be binding on all parties.

The Implication

The tribunal’s verdict has significant implications for Nigeria’s political landscape and stability.

The verdict has affirmed Tinubu’s legitimacy and authority as the president of Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy.

It has also boosted his popularity and confidence among his supporters and allies.

The verdict, however, has also deepened the divisions and tensions among the opposition parties and their supporters.

It has also raised questions about the independence and credibility of the judiciary and the electoral system.

Some analysts have warned that the verdict could trigger protests and violence in some parts of the country, especially in the South-East and South-South regions where Tinubu has less support.

The verdict has also set the stage for a fierce legal battle at the Supreme Court, where both sides will present their arguments and evidence before a panel of seven judges.

The outcome of the appeal will determine the fate of Tinubu’s presidency and Nigeria’s democracy.