Bids by Peter Obi and the Labour Party to hang on loosely on the 25 % Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja votes to either nullify President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and All Progressives Congress (APC) victory or procure a rerun failed woefully and finally on Thursday morning, October 26.
The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal declared that the Federal Capital Territory does not hold a higher status than other States in the country.
Section 134 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) stipulates that a presidential candidate must attain or score a majority of votes cast in a presidential election, where two or more candidates are involved, and at least 25% in two-thirds of the 36 States and FCT to meet the constitutional requirement to be declared as duly elected as President of Nigeria.
The Supreme Court therefore dismissed the appeal by Peter Obi and his Labour Party(LP) against judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), which affirmed the election of President Bola Tinubu.
The chairman of the 7 – man panel, Justice John Okoro who read the lead judgment held that the issues in Obi’s appeal were similar to that of Atiku Abubakar which had earlier been resolved.
Also, the last move by Atiku Abubakar and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to wrest victory from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by applying to present fresh evidence on the Chicago State University (CSU) diploma of President Tinubu to the Supreme Court failed.
The apex court dismissed the application as it begins reading of its judgment that would lay to rest all dispute pertaining to the February 25 Presidential Election.
Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour Party are appealing the judgment of Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPTC) which had earlier affirmed the election of Tinubu.
On Atiku’s application, the Supreme Court rejected the deposition by the Registrar of the CSU, Caleb Westberg, citing inadmissible as reason for the rejection.
It also ruled that the Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction after the 180 days timeline for determination of election petition had elapsed.
He said the court cannot activate section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to admit fresh evidence.
The chairman of the 7 – man panel, Justice John Okoro said, ” The leave cannot be granted. We do not have the vires to grant it. There is no paragraph in the petition that indicates forgery. It would float on the appeal if it should be admitted.
“They (petitioners) were tardy and not diligent enough. This does not fit into the determination of this appeal. It is hereby refused and dismissed.“
