Supreme Court Set to Rule on Presidential Election Appeals

In a highly anticipated decision, Nigeria’s Supreme Court is poised to deliver its judgement on Thursday, October 26, 2023. This landmark ruling will determine the outcome of three pivotal cases that could significantly impact the country’s political landscape.

The cases in question involve the Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar; and the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Bola Tinubu.

The legal battle stems from the verdict handed down by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) on September 6, which upheld Bola Tinubu’s electoral victory. Discontented with the PEPT’s decision, both Atiku and the PDP filed appeals, challenging the ruling.

The stage is set for a dramatic showdown as the Supreme Court, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, reserved judgement during its latest session on Monday. Legal representatives for all parties vigorously presented their arguments, adopting their briefs of argument and making their final submissions.

• Open Letter To The Peoples Democratic Party
• Supreme Court Sets a Date to Hear Atiku’s Petition Against Tinubu
• Atiku Files 35 Grounds of Appeal Against Tinubu at Supreme Court
• You can’t go on strike, FG tells NLC, TUC
• Peter Obi Vows to Appeal PEPT Verdict, LP Rejects Outcome

Notably, the Supreme Court also delved into a contentious motion concerning Atiku’s request to introduce fresh evidence related to alleged forged documents. Chris Uche, Atiku Abubakar’s counsel, implored the court to grant the motion, enabling the appeal and potentially disqualifying Tinubu.

On the opposing side, the Respondents’ legal teams, including Abubakar Mahmoud representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Wole Olanipekun for President Bola Tinubu, and Akin Olujinmi for the All Progressives Congress (APC), urged the court to dismiss the motion and the appeal, citing a lack of merit.

This impending judgement holds immense significance for the political landscape in Nigeria and could reshape the outcomes of the 2023 presidential election. All eyes are on the Supreme Court as Nigerians await this pivotal ruling with bated breath.