Tribunal begins hearing of Obi’s petition against Tinubu’s election
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Petitions filed by the Labour Party (LP) and Action Peoples Party (APP) against Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) in Abuja will be heard on Wednesday, the tribunal ruled on Monday.
The two parties and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are challenging the declaration of Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) the winner of the election on February 25 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The APP, the only applicant in its petition, is challenging
- The result of the election on the grounds of irregularities, including alleged mutilation of election results.
- Tinubu’s victory on the grounds that “[he] was not qualified to stand for the said election having knowingly supplied false information,” including alleged falsification of age and educational qualifications.
It also insisted that
- “[Tinubu] was not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes cast at the election.”
- Corrupt practices by INEC staff and voter inducement, among others, affected the result of the election which was marred by “monumental vote buying.”
- “The overvoting took place under the watchful eyes of agents of the third respondent.”
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Pre-trial hearing on Monday
At the pre-trial hearing on Monday, APP National Legal Adviser Peter Abang announced his appearance for the party and Obed Agu announced his as the party’s legal representative, via by The PUNCH.
Wole Olanipekun announced appearance for Tinubu; Lateef Fagbemi for the APC; and Abubakar Mahmoud for the INEC.
Fagbemi informed the court of preliminary objection to the APP’s petition; and INEC’s lawyer, Mahmoud, confirmed pending applications in response to the petition.
The court adjourned the petition until May 10 for continuation of hearing.
After the adjournment, the petitions by the LP and Peter Obi its president candidate were called.
Both are challenging the result of the election on the grounds that Tinubu was not qualified to contest because of “an offence involving dishonesty, namely narcotics trafficking imposed by the United States District Court.”
They also cited non-compliance with electoral laws as well as the guidelines of the INEC.
LP National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh appeared as LP’s representative; May Agbamuche-Mbu appeared on behalf of the INEC; and Plateau Governor Simon Lalong appeared for the APC.
Livy Uzoukwu appeared for Obi and Mahmoud did for the INEC.
Olanipekun appeared for Tinubu and Kashim Shettima his running mate, and Fagbemi for the APC.
Uzoukwu said they have filed their answers to the questions and “we adopt and rely on them in this pre-trial proceedings.”
Mahmoud told the court the INEC has also filed its responses to the pre-hearing questions.
Olanipekun disclosed: “We have filed our answers on the 3rd of May 2023 and my noble lords under paragraph 14 we have also listed the application subject to the preliminary objection in the reply.”
Fagbemi confirmed he has filed answers on behalf of his client to the pre-hearing questions.
The tribunal adjourned Obi’s petition until May 10.