In a recent development, the Presidential Election Petitions Court has rendered a verdict on the petitions filed by the Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, challenging the election of President Bola Tinubu from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25, 2023 presidential poll. The court unequivocally described these petitions as "unmeritorious."
The LP's primary contention was that President Tinubu should not have been declared the winner of the election due to his failure to secure the mandated 25 percent of votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). However, the court deemed this argument as "ridiculous" and referenced the constitutional principle of equality among citizens.
The five-man panel, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, invoked Section 134 (2a) of the constitution, emphasizing that the requirement to score 25 percent in the FCT during a presidential election is not mandatory. With no room for ambiguity, the court ruled in favor of the respondent, President Tinubu, and declared LP's petition clearly lacking in merit.
This ruling has significant implications for the outcome of the election dispute and underscores the importance of adhering to constitutional provisions in electoral matters
Source: Channels
The LP's primary contention was that President Tinubu should not have been declared the winner of the election due to his failure to secure the mandated 25 percent of votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). However, the court deemed this argument as "ridiculous" and referenced the constitutional principle of equality among citizens.
The five-man panel, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, invoked Section 134 (2a) of the constitution, emphasizing that the requirement to score 25 percent in the FCT during a presidential election is not mandatory. With no room for ambiguity, the court ruled in favor of the respondent, President Tinubu, and declared LP's petition clearly lacking in merit.
This ruling has significant implications for the outcome of the election dispute and underscores the importance of adhering to constitutional provisions in electoral matters
Source: Channels