Just in: Presidential poll results: Court gives Obi, Atiku nod to serve Tinubu petition

The Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) has granted the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi, the permission to serve their petitions on the President-Elect, Bola Tinubu, seeking to nullify his victory.

The court ruled that the petitions could be served through substituted means.

The three member panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani on Friday March 24, 2023, held that the petition should be transmitted to Bola Ahmed Tinubu through his political party , the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This is coming after Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi approached the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) sitting in Abuja, stating that the President-elect is deliberately avoiding petitions to nullify his election.

Obi said Tinubu gave his address as No. 29, Bourdillion Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, but he has relocated to the Defence Guest House in the Maitama District, Abuja, from where he will discharge his duties until he is sworn in.

Mr Ikechukwu Ezechukwu (SAN) arguing for the Labour Party and Peter Obi, informed the court that Tinubu has moved to a place that his heavily guarded after INEC had declared him President-elect.

In the same vein, Shettimma has also moved from his known location to a location not stated on the EC 9 Form.

“We ask for an order of court granting leave to the petitioners/applicants to serve the instant petition No: CA/PEPC/03/2023 and all other processes filed by the petitioners in these proceedings on the 2nd and 3rd respondents, (Tinubu and Shettima) by substituted means.

“By delivering and/or leaving/pasting the petition and all other processes filed in the petition at either the office of the National Legal Adviser of the APC or any other officer of the APC at its national secretariat in Abuja.

“An order deeming the aforementioned mode of service as good and proper service.

“And for such further orders the court may deem fit to make in the circumstance,” he said.

Persecondnews reported that Obi had on March 20 filed a five-ground petition, challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential poll in which Tinubu was declared winner by INEC.