Presidential Election Petition Court Dismisses APM and Peter Obi’s Labour Party Petitions

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PEPT Rejects APM and Peter Obi’s Petitions Against Tinubu and APC

The Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja has delivered its verdict on the petitions filed by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP). These petitions challenged the legitimacy of President Tinubu’s election in February. The court’s rulings, delivered on September 6, have far-reaching implications for the political landscape in Nigeria.

APM’s Petition Dismissed:

The court, presided over by Justice Haruna Tsammani, dismissed APM’s petition on the grounds of “lack of merit and abuse of the court process.” The ruling highlighted several key points:

1. Lack of Jurisdiction: The court found that it lacked jurisdiction to address the alleged invalid nomination of Senator Kassim Shettima as the vice president. This was deemed a pre-election matter that should have been raised in the Federal High Court.

2. Qualifications of Candidates: The court emphasized that the qualifications of candidates for election are clearly outlined in the constitution and cannot be challenged in this manner.

3. Lack of Concrete Evidence: APM’s claims were found to lack concrete evidence, and allegations about the APC not conducting a primary election for the vice president position were dismissed. The court held that such matters fall within the president’s constitutional powers.

This dismissal comes amid other ongoing petitions, notably those filed by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, both of whom contested the presidential election results declared by INEC.

Labour Party’s Petition Also Dismissed:

In a separate ruling, the presidential election tribunal in Abuja dismissed Peter Obi’s petition challenging the integrity of the February 25 election. The tribunal’s unanimous decision emphasized specific shortcomings in the petition:

1. Generic Allegations: The petitioners made generic allegations of irregularities against the respondents without specifying the specific polling units affected.

2. Lack of Supporting Evidence: The promised evidence, including spreadsheets, inspection reports, and forensic analysis, was not attached to the petition and served on the respondents.

These deficiencies in the petition led to its dismissal by the tribunal.

The dismissals of the APM and Labour Party petitions mark significant developments in Nigeria’s political landscape. They underscore the importance of presenting compelling evidence and adhering to procedural rules in electoral disputes. As the legal process continues, these rulings will shape the future of election-related cases and reaffirm the principles of justice and fairness in the democratic process.

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