For LP, Peter Obi, Dashed Presidential Hopes As Tribunal Throws Out Issues Raised

HIGHLIGHTS:

The hope of the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi seeking to upturn the outcome of the 2023 presidential election based on technicalities has been dashed from various angles as the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) highlighted major irregularities in its petitions.

Delivering its judgment in Abuja today, the tribunal headed by Justice Abba Bello Muhammed has struck some of the prayers of Obi and his party solidifying Tinubu’s grip on the electoral victory.

Below are highlights from the court ruling:

• Pleading must set out material facts, said the Tribunal

• Only material facts must be pleaded showing the Petitioner claims

• Averments in a pleading must be specific and not general, the Tribunal said citing Supreme Court judgment.

• In other words, The Labour Party has not hit the nail on the head in proving their petition.

• The Law is very clear that where someone alleged irregularities in a particular polling unit, such person must prove the particular irregularities in that polling unit for him to succeed in his petition, said the Tribunal

• The Tribunal also said that the Petitioners did not prove the particular polling unit where election did not take place

• LP failed to specify particulars of polling units where the complainants of irregularities are alleged

• The Petitioners did not prove how Peter Obi’s votes were reduced and added to Tinubu.

• The tribunal held that the LP did not disclose where they allege that there was either over voting, irregularities and malpractices took place, they failed to state the polling units where such allegations happened or who even witness those allegations.

• The Petitioners failed to state the figures, that is, the number of votes added to APC.

• On allegations of corrupt practices, the Tribunal stated that it is not every allegation of corruption that is regarded as corrupt practices.

• To say that the Vice Presidential Candidate of the APC should be disqualified based on the fact that APC didn’t organise a primary election to choose him is incompetent. It is the perogative of the Presidential Candidate to choose his running mate….

• It is unimaginable that a petitioner will allege widespread rigging in 176,000 Polling units, over 8,000 wards, 774 LGAs, 36 States and FCT without stating the specific place where the alleged irregularities occur – Court”

• A petitioner is making two contradictory statements.
On one hand claiming that they won majority of the votes cast at the election and should be declared winner

• On the other hand asking for cancellation of the election and order for a rerun of election they claimed to have won.

• OBI of LP and LP as political party have failed to specify how they have won majority votes.

• Presidential Tribunal Dismisses 25% FCT Case By Peter Obi, Says Residents Of Abuja Don’t Have Special Privileges, Every Nigerian Is Equal.

Given the ruling that wound up 6 month of eventful judicial fisticuffs, it is safe to conclude that Peter Obi and LP’s unsubstantiated petitions are not only needless but frivolous.