Key Issues in the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Verdict

FCT, Abuja - The highly anticipated judgment of the presidential election petition tribunal will be delivered today, potentially bringing an end to the legal challenge against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's victory in the February 25 presidential election.

The petitioners, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) have presented several key issues to the tribunal, hoping to overturn Tinubu's victory.

Firstly, both Abubakar and Obi have accused President Tinubu of collaborating with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to rig the election in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC). They claim that the election results were manipulated and that the electoral body showed bias, resulting in a lack of transparency.

Another major bone of contention during the election was the delay in the electronic transmission of the results. At the collation center in Abuja, Senator Dino Melaye challenged the INEC chairman, Mahmoud Yakubu, on the lack of due diligence in result transmission. The issue was brought to court and will potentially influence today's judgment.

Furthermore, the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 stipulates that a presidential candidate must secure at least 25% of the votes in 2/3rd of the entire 36 states of Nigeria and 25% of the votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Tinubu's failure to meet this criterion and his defeat in the FCT by Peter Obi could disqualify him from the presidency.

The controversy surrounding the double nomination ticket of Vice President Kashim Shettima has also been highlighted as a key issue. Shettima's purchase of the APC nomination form for a Senate seat and his subsequent selection as Tinubu's running mate allegedly violate the Electoral Act of 2022.

President Tinubu's academic records have also been called into question. While he claims to have graduated from Chicago State University in the United States, doubts have been raised, and he has refused to make his records public. His legal team admitted in court that he forfeited $460,000 to the American government for narcotics trafficking and money laundering.

Lastly, Atiku and the evidence presented before the tribunal accused Tinubu of possessing the citizenry passport of Guinea, which they argue is a violation of the electoral act.

Today's judgment holds significant consequences for Nigeria's democracy. The evidence presented in court makes a compelling case for justice to be served. As the nation watches eagerly, the verdict will shape the future of the country.

Source of content: OOO News 2023-09-06 News

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