Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ An appeals court in Nigeria has made significant rulings regarding petitions challenging the legitimacy of President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the February election.
Three opposing parties had challenged the election results, claiming that they were illegally announced and arguing that Tinubu was not qualified to run for president because he was allegedly a citizen of Guinea and lacked the required academic credentials. The Court of Appeal in Abuja ruled on two of these petitions:
Third-place finisher Peter Obi and his Labour Party’s claims that the election commission did not follow due process in announcing the results and that there were irregularities in the voting were rejected. The court ruled that he failed to prove these claims and that witness statements presented by Obi were deemed “incompetent.” Additionally, Obi’s claim that Tinubu had been indicted on drug charges in the United States and was therefore disqualified from running for president was also rejected.
A petition by the Allied Peoples Movement seeking to nullify Tinubu’s victory due to the alleged lack of legal nomination of his running mate, Vice President Kashim Shettima, was dismissed. The court found that Shettima met the minimum constitutional requirements for candidacy.
President Tinubu, who is currently attending the G20 summit in India, has denied all the allegations against him.
Supporters of various political parties gathered near the court premises amid tight security to express their solidarity and urge the judiciary to uphold justice.
The court’s decisions are significant as they could determine the outcome of the presidential election. The tribunal has the authority to uphold Tinubu’s election win, declare someone else the winner, annul the vote, or call for a new election. Whatever decision is reached can be appealed at Nigeria’s Supreme Court within 60 days.
If the judges uphold the last pending petition and annul the presidential election, it would be an unprecedented event in Nigeria’s history. Historically, presidential elections in Nigeria have been contested in court, but none have been overturned.
The situation has raised tensions in Nigeria, and authorities have warned against actions or statements that could incite violence or disorder. President Tinubu won the election with less than 50% of the vote, which is also a first in Nigeria’s history.
The opposition has raised concerns about the electoral process, including delays in uploading and announcing results, which could potentially have allowed for ballot tampering. Protests and strikes have also emerged in response to economic challenges and reforms introduced by the president. President Tinubu’s presidency has been marked by efforts to reform the economy, although some of these measures have faced criticism for their impact on ordinary Nigerians. The ongoing challenges facing Nigeria, including economic and social issues, make the resolution of this election dispute crucial for the nation’s stability and future direction.
