Top StoryTrending Story

LP’s ‘widespread irregularities’ claim generic, not specific, Presidential Election Court declares

325

The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) has ruled that the Labour Party’s petition, alleging widespread poll irregularities in the February 25, 2023 election that brought in President Bola Tinubu is generic and not specific and therefore was unproven.

The court said LP failed to prove the particular polling units where the elections did not take place and also did not specify particulars of polling units where there are alleged complainants of irregularities.

Delivering judgment in the highly anticipated election tribunal verdict on Wednesday in Abuja, Justice Abba Mohammed, said:” In a presidential election held in 176,866 polling units in 774 Local Government Areas, it would be improper not to specify where there were irregularities.”

According to Justice Mohammed, the petitioners only made generic allegations, as they did not prove the particular polling units where the election did not take place nor did they specify particulars of polling units where there are alleged complainants of irregularities.

“Pleading must set out material facts and particulars. In the instant petition, there was no effort to prove specific allegations, particulars of complaints,” said the Tribunal.

“The law is clear that where someone alleges irregularities in a particular polling unit, such person must prove the particular irregularities in that polling unit before that petition can succeed.

“It was only in one instance that figures were given of alleged suppressed votes and we all know that elections are about figures.

“LP alleged that INEC reduced their scores and added it to APC votes but failed to supply particulars of what they actually scored before the said reductions, neither did they supply the polling units where it happened,” the Tribunal added.

Persecondnews reports that earlier, the tribunal also declared APC’s petition challenging Obi’s membership of the LP as incompetent.

Justice Mohammed noted that membership of a political party is an internal affair.

Persecondnews recalls that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the February 25 poll.

However, the result was challenged in court by Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, who were both presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) respectively in the election.

On the part of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), it sought the disqualification of Vice-President Kashim Shettima as Tinubu’s running mate as his nomination violated Section 35 of Electoral Act 2022, and other constitutional provisions.

The party prayed the court to void the votes polled by the APC in the election and declare the candidate with the next highest score as the winner of the election.

Justice Haruna Tsammani, Chairman of the five-man panel of justices who read the judgment said it is clear that the claim of qualification or non-qualification is a pre-election matter.

Leave a comment

Related Articles

Just in: Senate confirms Omolola Oloworaran as DG PENCOM

The Senate on Thursday confirmed the nomination of Omolola Oloworaran for appointment...

Just in: Senate approves Tinubu’s $2.2 bln loan request

The Senate on Thursday approved President Bola Tinubu’s loan request of $2.2...

Just in: Reps reject bill for six-year single tenure for president, governors

The House of Representatives rejected a constitutional amendment bill on Thursday seeking...

Just in: Simon Ekpa, four others arrested in Finland over terror-related activities

Finnish-Nigerian separatist agitator, Simon Ekpa, and four others have been arrested in...

Just in: FG sacks Nnamdi Azikiwe University VC

The Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Prof. Bernard Odoh,...

Senate raises alarm over fresh terrorists’ invasion from Mali, Burkina Faso, urges FG’s action 

Upset by the invasion of terrorists known as Lakurawa into Northern Nigeria...

Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists’ ambush: Defence HQ confirms killing of 5 soldiers in Borno

The Defence Headquarters has confirmed that Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists ambushed troops conducting...

Tinubu writes NASS for approval of $2.2bln fresh external loan

President Bola Tinubu has written to the National Assembly, seeking the approval...

NNPC Ltd’s spokesman, Soneye, explains delay in Port Harcourt Refinery rehabilitation, assures of imminent completion

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has acknowledged the challenges...

AFCON Qualifier: Nigeria’s Super Eagles Suffer Shocking 2-1 Loss to Rwanda

Nigeria’s Super Eagles concluded their Africa Cup of Nations Group D qualifiers...

Tax reform bills: Nigeria struggling with tax-to-GDP ratio below World Bank’s 15 % benchmark – Speaker Abbas

Mr. Tajudeen Abbas, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has expressed...

Just in: Again, Anambra sit-at-home claims four vigilance operatives, motorcyclist

Gunmen enforcing Monday’s sit-at-home order in Anambra State launched a deadly attack,...

Tinubu departs Abuja for G20 leaders’ summit in Brazil

President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on...

Breaking: APC’s Aiyedatiwa in landslide victory, wins all 18 LGAs in Ondo guber poll

The All Progressives Congress Candidate, Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has swept the 2024...

Ondo guber poll: Aiyedatiwa votes, says exercise peaceful, PDP raises alarm over thugs invasion

As the Ondo State governorship election kicks off on Saturday, Gov. Lucky...

Late COAS Lagbaja buried in Abuja amid tears, tributes

Amid tears and tributes, the body of the late Chief of Army...

Tinubu appoints Daniel Bwala, Atiku’s ex-spokesman as Special Adviser on Media, three DGs

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser on Media...

Just in: Body of late COAS Lagbaja arrives in Abuja ahead of Friday burial

The body of the late Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja,...

Tinubu Presides Over Crucial FEC Meeting to Unveil 2025 Budget Plans

The much-anticipated meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) is underway with...

Breaking: NNPC Ltd. achieves milestone oil production of 1.8 mbpd

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has announced a significant...