In a significant development, the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, has delivered its judgment on the 2023 presidential election, upholding the results and dismissing the allegations of favouritism made by Mr Peter Obi and the Labour Party, LP, in favour of President Bola Tinubu. 

The ruling, delivered by Justice Abba Mohammed, emphasized the lack of credible evidence to substantiate the claims of election rigging.

Lack of Credible Evidence

In its preliminary ruling, The PEPC highlighted that while the Petitioners alleged irregularities in the election, they failed to provide specific details regarding where these alleged infractions occurred. 

Despite asserting that the election was rigged in 18,088 polling units nationwide, they could not pinpoint the locations of these units. 

Moreover, the court found no conclusive evidence to support Obi’s claim that fictitious results were recorded in favour of President Tinubu and the APC by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Failure to Specify Incidents

The court also noted the Petitioners’ inability to specify the locations of over-voting or the exact figures of unlawful votes attributed to President Tinubu by INEC. 

Also, despite stating their reliance on spreadsheets, forensic reports, and expert analysis, the Petitioners did not attach these documents to the petition or serve them to the Respondents, as required by law. 

The court stressed that the allegations in the petition lacked specificity and were vague in many respects.

FAQs

Q1: What was the key outcome of the tribunal judgment?

The tribunal upheld the results of the 2023 presidential election and dismissed the claims of election rigging made by Mr Peter Obi and the Labour Party in favour of President Bola Tinubu.

Q2: What were the main reasons for the dismissal of Obi’s claims?

The dismissal was primarily due to the lack of credible evidence supporting the allegations of election irregularities. The Petitioners failed to specify where these alleged infractions occurred, provide conclusive proof of fictitious results, or attach essential documents to their petition.

Q3: Did the court address the issue of Peter Obi’s party membership?

Yes, the court ruled that the issue of membership within a political party is an internal matter and not within its jurisdiction. It held that only the LP had the authority to determine Obi’s membership, and the Respondents lacked the legal standing to challenge it.

Q4: Were Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the PDP involved in the tribunal case?

No, the court determined that Atiku and the PDP were not statutory Respondents or necessary parties to the petition, and the Petitioners were not obligated to join them in the case.

Q5: What is the next step following the preliminary ruling?

The next step involves the Chairman of the five-member panel, Justice Haruna Tsammani, reading the judgment of the court on the substantive matter, which will provide further clarity on the case’s outcome.

In this pivotal tribunal judgment, the 2023 election results have been upheld, reinforcing the credibility of the electoral process. The ruling emphasizes the importance of presenting specific and substantiated evidence when challenging election outcomes, ensuring the integrity of democratic processes.