As expected, former Vice President and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said he will move up to the Supreme Court to set aside the election of President Bola Tinubu.
The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) on Wednesday affirmed
affirmed the election of President Bola Tinubu.
It is also projected that the Presidential candidate of the Labour Partt (LP) in the February 25 Election, Mr. Peter Obi, will approach the Supreme Court, following hints dropped by the party that it awaits a certified ture copy of the court’s judgment.
Atiku, through his team of lawyers led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, the PDP candidate, said he only got judgement from the court and not justice.
“Judgement has just been delivered but we have not received justice. Luckily, the Constitution has given us the right to go on appeal.
“This is the court of first instance. We still have the right to go on appeal to the Supreme Court and you see, this is a struggle that is not just for our client, but for the Constitution of this country, for the rule of law and democracy.
“We were expecting an outcome that will improve, encourage the use of technology to enhance election management, to enhance transparency, to enhance accountability, so that Nigerians will believe in democracy.
“So that Nigerians can come out in their masses like they did, to vote. We don’t want Nigerians to be discouraged.
“There are certain things and principle of law that he know that we need to explore and we strongly believe that when we get to Supreme Court, it will have the opportunity to review a number of things that have been said here today.
“We have the instruction of our client to go to the Supreme Court. So, we have asked for the records. We have asked for the judgement. We are going to apply for the transmission of the records because we have a very limited time to push this.
“So, the struggle continues and as it is said, it is not over until it is over,” Atiku’s lawyer added.
The PEPC dismissed the petitions filed by Mr Peter Obi of Labour Party and his Party and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).
Delivering the lead judgment, Chairman of the five-member panel of justices, Justice Haruna Tsammani said that the petitioners had failed to prove their allegations beyond reasonable doubts.
Justice Tsammani held that the petitions, lacking in merit, were consequently dismissed.
He also ruled that all parties would bear their respective costs.
The court in the substantive judgement delivered by justice Haruna Tsammani, resolved the four issues raised in favour of the respondents.
He held that the petitioners failed to provide the necessary facts to prove all their allegations.
He held that the petitioners failed to call agents who are on ground at the various polling units.
On the lawful valid votes, the court held that such allegations was made but no other election result was provided.
”It is settled that before a party can claim that a crime was committed such Party must proof it beyond respondents doubt
”All issues raised been resolved against the petitioners, the petitions therefore, lack merit.
“Having found the three petitions to be devoid of merit, the petitions are hereby dismissed.”
The three petitions were by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi and his party, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his party
▪︎ Additional report by NAN
