Supreme Court dismisses Atiku’s appeal, confirms Tinubu’s victory in presidential election
In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, affirming the decision of the Presidential Elections Petitions Tribunal that upheld the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress in the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
The seven-man panel, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, declared that Atiku’s appeal lacked merit and was subsequently dismissed.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had appealed the tribunal’s judgment on seven grounds. However, the apex court had previously denied Atiku’s request to submit fresh evidence against President Bola Tinubu, dismissing the application.
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Atiku claimed that Tinubu had submitted forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and sought permission to present evidence obtained from Tinubu’s record at Chicago State University. However, Tinubu objected, stating that Atiku made the request outside the stipulated 180-day period.
In his ruling, Justice Okoro stated that the time allotted for election petitions is fixed and cannot be extended. He highlighted that the court had lost jurisdiction to hear any matter related to the petition after the 180-day period, which expired on September 17. He emphasized that no amendments could introduce new facts not included in the initial election petition.
The Supreme Court’s decision signifies a final resolution to the legal battle over the presidential election, solidifying Tinubu’s position as the legitimate winner.
