A Nigerian Court of Appeal on September 6, 2023 rejected all opposition party petitions seeking to overturn President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory in February’s disputed presidential election. The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his counterpart of the Labor Party (Labour Party), Peter Obi, immediately denounced this judgment. Explanations.
2 mins
With our correspondent in Abuja, Moses Gomis
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his Labor Party counterpart, Peter Obi, have rejected a judgment handed down on September 6, 2023 by a court stating that Bola Tinubu had been duly elected President of Nigeria.
The Abuja Court of Appeal dismissed the opposition candidates’ petitions in a unanimous decision rendered.
She cited the inability of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi to prove the merits of their respective cases.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu exults from New Delhi
It was with a clenched right fist in the air that Bola Ahmed Tinubu celebrated this verdict. In a video posted online, he is seen surrounded by ministers from his government and advisers from his cabinet accompanying him to New Delhi, India, for his first G20 summit.
This is a huge relief to Abuja for its Vice President Kashim Shettima who described the decision as ” the triumph of democracy “. Sign of his concern, he personally attended the reading of the 12 hours and almost 30 minutes of the judgment by the five judges of this Court of Appeal of Abuja.
Tens of millions of Nigerians suspended from live-streamed hearing
In their argument, the judges inter alia stated that under the current Nigerian Constitution, the use of electronic equipment is not a requirement.
Despite the general strike and blackouts, tens of millions of Nigerians were suspended all day and part of the night in front of their big and small screens to follow “The Judgment Day”, a live broadcast audience.
As soon as the verdict was announced, the lawyers for the PDP and the Labor Party rejected the judgement. The soap opera should continue in a few months, even a few years at the Supreme Court because Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, the two main losers of the Presidential elections have already announced that they will file an appeal before the ultimate court.