…By Larry John for TDPel Media.
The pre-hearing in the petition of the Labour Party (LP) and Peter Obi against the victory of Bola Tinubu in the February 25 presidential election has been adjourned by the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja to May 10, 2023.
The former governor of Anambra State, who came third in the election, has raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of the electoral process and has urged the tribunal to investigate the matter and deliver a just verdict.
Obi and his party have jointly filed a petition against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tinubu, Shettima Kashim, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as respondents.
They are seeking the tribunal to determine that Tinubu was not entitled to be declared and returned as the winner of the presidential election held on 25 February 2023, as he failed to score one-quarter of the votes cast at the Presidential Election in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
They also prayed to the court to order the cancellation of the presidential election, citing that it was not conducted substantially in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.
Additionally, the LP candidate asked the court to compel INEC to conduct a fresh election and to disqualify Tinubu and his running mate, Shettima, from the fresh election.
Obi argued that the nomination of Kashim Shettima as the Vice Presidential candidate was defective as he did not withdraw from his nomination as a senatorial candidate of his party before accepting to serve as the vice-presidential candidate of Tinubu.
He stormed the courtroom on Monday following the commencement of the presidential tribunal hearing.
Commentary:
The decision of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja to adjourn the pre-hearing in the petition of the Labour Party (LP) and Peter Obi against the victory of Bola Tinubu in the February 25 presidential election to May 10, 2023, indicates that the case will receive due consideration.
The LP and Obi have raised concerns about the transparency and fairness of the electoral process, and it is important that these issues are investigated thoroughly.
It is also significant that the LP candidate is calling for a cancellation of the presidential election and a fresh election to be conducted.
The outcome of this case will have significant implications for the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process, and it is essential that a just verdict is delivered.
It is also noteworthy that Obi has prayed the tribunal to disqualify Tinubu and his running mate from the fresh election, citing that their nomination was defective.
As Nigeria prepares for the 2023 elections, it is crucial that the electoral process is transparent, fair, and credible.
The outcome of this case will be closely watched by Nigerians and the international community, and it is hoped that justice will be served.