The Nigerian political system is currently in a state of uncertainty as the Supreme Court deliberates on President Bola Tinubu’s decision to remain in office.
Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), who are contesting Tinubu’s victory, will present their cases to the court for a decision this morning.
The declaration of All Progressives Congress (APC) President Tinubu as the victor of the February 25 presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is being contested by Atiku and Obi.
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The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT), which rejected both of their appeals and maintained Tinubu’s election victory, was challenged by them individually in separate Supreme Court cases.
The parties to the appeal adopted their briefs of arguments, and on October 23, 2023, a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court judges, chaired by Justice Inyang Okoro, reserved judgement in the matter.
Because Tinubu is accused of providing falsified academic credentials to INEC in order to run for president, Atiku is requesting that Tinubu’s electoral victory be declared void at the highest court.
Chief Chris Uche (SAN), who oversaw the Atiku and PDP legal team, notified the court during the petition hearing of an interlocutory application that asked permission to introduce new evidence in the appeal.
Atiku attempted to provide new proof in the form of Tinubu’s academic records, which were given to him by Chicago State University (CSU) on October 2, 2023.
Judge Nancy Maldonado of the District Court of Illinois, Eastern Division, Illinois, United States of America, issued the order for the former vice president to receive access to the 32-page document.
