Supreme Court sets hearing for Atiku’s appeal against Tinubu’s victory
Supreme Court sets hearing for Atiku’s appeal against Tinubu’s victory
The Supreme Court has scheduled Monday, October 23, for the hearing of Atiku Abubakar’s appeal against President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 presidential election.
Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, filed the appeal after the Presidential Tribunal upheld Tinubu’s win.
The court had dismissed Atiku’s case, which he had filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the election.
In his appeal, Atiku accused the tribunal of making a grave error in its judgment.
His 35-ground notice of appeal, presented by his lead counsel Chris Uche, SAN, stated that the tribunal’s findings and conclusions did not accurately represent the grounds of his petition.
Atiku maintained that the tribunal predominantly erred by not nullifying the election’s results due to INEC’s non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022. He maintained that the election was based on the “doctrine of legitimate expectation” through grave and gross misrepresentation.
On the other hand, following the outcome of the certificate suit he instituted against Tinubu in the US, Atiku urged the Supreme Court to allow him to present fresh evidence to prove that Tinubu submitted false documents to INEC.
He argued that presenting forged documents by any candidate in the presidential race was a severe constitutional issue that must be discouraged.
However, Tinubu urged the Supreme Court to dismiss Atiku’s application, claiming it was a crass abuse of court processes.
Atiku, responding to Tinubu’s plea, urged the court to dismiss any technicality and grant his application. He believed that merit could not be purportedly determined or pronounced upon at the interlocutory stage.