Supreme Court To Atiku: Your Appeal Lacked Merit

Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by Atiku Abubakar against the election of President Bola Tinubu.

In a unanimous verdict delivered on Thursday, the court ruled that the appeal filed by Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lacked merit.

“On the whole, it is my view that there is no merit in this appeal,” Justice Inyang Okoro said.

Atiku had sought to overturn the judgment of the presidential election petition tribunal, which affirmed Tinubu’s election as president.Abubakar had challenged Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the election.

He also challenged the failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit election results electronically.

In the 35 grounds notice of appeal, he submitted that the tribunal’s findings were done with “grave errors and gross misrepresentation” which resulted in a miscarriage of justice.

In a separate application, Abubakar asked the court to grant him leave to file fresh evidence, which he obtained from the Chicago State University (CSU) against Tinubu.

Abubakar had alleged that Tinubu’s academic records were fraught with discrepancies and forgeries.

At the court session on Monday, Chris Uche, counsel to Abubakar and the PDP, submitted that the issue involving Tinubu’s certificate is a “weighty, grave and constitutional” one, which the supreme court should admit as fresh evidence against President Tinubu.

Uche said the supreme court “has a duty” to look into the new evidence submitted and reach a decision by avoiding the issue of technicality.

The court, however, dismissed the petition after ruling that it lacked merit.

Source:TheCable