In a bold move aimed at overturning the election of President Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, took a resolute step on Tuesday by lodging a comprehensive appeal before the Supreme Court. Atiku's legal team, led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, submitted a staggering 35 grounds of appeal, urging the highest court in Nigeria to overturn the judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal on September 6. This earlier judgment had affirmed Tinubu, of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as the rightful winner of the presidential election that took place on February 25.
Atiku asserted before the Apex court that the Court of Appeal's verdict, which dismissed his petition challenging the presidential election outcome, was not just flawed but also resulted in a significant miscarriage of justice against him. The former Vice President maintained that the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) had committed a grave legal error by not annulling the presidential election due to non-compliance with the Electoral Act of 2022. He cited substantial evidence indicating that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had breached existing election laws and regulations.
Atiku further alleged that the PEPC arrived at a unanimous decision based on a fundamental misinterpretation and misrepresentation of provisions within both the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act of 2022. This multifaceted appeal showcases Atiku's determination to pursue every available legal avenue to challenge the election outcome and highlights the complexity of the legal battle ahead.
The lodging of these 35 grounds of appeal before the Supreme Court sets the stage for a pivotal legal battle that could reshape Nigeria's political landscape. As the nation watches with bated breath, legal experts, political pundits, and the public eagerly await the court's response to this unprecedented challenge, which has the potential to redefine the course of Nigerian politics.
