In a significant development at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) Presidential candidate, appeared alongside other parties as they geared up to adopt their conclusive written speeches.
The acceptance of these final addresses marks the initial stage towards scheduling a hearing date in Atiku and the PDP’s appeal challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.
Amidst the anticipation, the five-member panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani requested all parties to submit their final briefs of argument and later present them for adoption.
Notably, among the suits filed against President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, the court specifically demanded that the parties adopt their written address concerning the call for the immediate removal of the said officials from office.
The presidential election held on March 1, saw the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declare President Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner.
With 8,794,726 votes, he emerged victorious, leaving Atiku of the Peoples Democratic Party with 6,984,520 votes, and Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party with 6,101,533 votes behind.
However, discontent with the election’s outcome, both Atiku and Obi lodged separate petitions before the court, asserting that they were the rightful winners of the presidential election.
They questioned President Tinubu’s eligibility to run for office, further fueling their call for the election to be deemed invalid.
With the ongoing appeal, the petitioners are ardently urging the court to declare the election null and void and to conduct a new presidential election, excluding President Tinubu, who they deem ineligible from the outset.
As the proceedings unfold, the nation watches closely, anticipating the court’s verdict on this momentous matter.
