In a landmark decision today, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed the appeal filed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Peter Obi, challenging the outcome of the 2023 Presidential election. This ruling solidifies the victory of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was declared the winner of the election.
The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, upheld the previous rulings of the lower courts, including the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, which had earlier affirmed Tinubu’s victory. Justice Okoro, while delivering the lead judgment, declared that the appeal lacked merit and that the petitioners failed to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The courtroom was filled with tension as supporters of both parties anxiously awaited the verdict. Following the announcement, celebrations erupted amongst Tinubu’s supporters, while disappointment and frustration were visible among Atiku and Obi’s supporters.
This ruling brings an end to months of legal battles and political tension surrounding the 2023 Presidential election. President-elect Tinubu, who will assume office, now faces the task of uniting the nation after this highly contested election.
The dismissed appeal marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s political history and reaffirms the authority of the Supreme Court as the final arbiter in election-related disputes.
Supreme Court Rubbishes Atiku's Appeal
The Supreme Court upheld President Bola Tinubu’s election victory, dismissing the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for lacking merit.
The court ruled that Atiku failed to provide evidence that he had won the election, emphasizing that there was no credible counter-figure of votes to challenge the valid count declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Supreme Court stated it could not fabricate votes in favor of Atiku and the PDP, rejecting all grounds of appeal, including issues related to qualification, Electoral Act compliance, the 25% votes in FCT, and electoral malpractices.
Justice Okoro affirmed President Tinubu’s election, clarifying that the failure of the INEC Results Viewing (IREV) system was not sufficient grounds for nullifying the presidential election. The court maintained that IREV failure does not hinder the election’s result collation.
Additionally, the Supreme Court highlighted that INEC’s failure to transmit election results electronically did not impact the election’s outcome and did not warrant the nullification of the presidential election results.
Justice John Okoro made this statement in the lead judgment on the appeal brought by former Vice President and PDP’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, aiming to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the February 25 presidential election.
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