Supreme Court Speaks On Presidential Tribunal Judges Withdrawing From Panel.
The Supreme Court has adjourned the appeals challenging the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the February 25 election.
Bellnews recalls that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the election, but Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alongside Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP) rejected the result and headed for the court.
The duo challenged the election result alongside the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate, but the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal struck out their appeals.
Unsatisfied with the PEPT judgement, the three political parties filed appeals at the Supreme Court, which heard the matter on Monday.
However, APM on Monday announced the withdrawal of its appeal during the proceedings at the apex court while PDP and LP continued with their cases.
The appellant’s lawyer, Chukwuma Majukwu Umeh, applied to withdraw it.
Following the withdrawal, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal for lack of merit.
In dismissing the appeal, members of the Supreme Court panel noted that it was a frivolous case because the apex court, in an earlier case of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) v. INEC and others, resolved the issue that Shettima was properly nominated.
The 7-member panel led by Justice John Okoro however adjourned the matter of the PDP and LP after the arguments of lawyers of the respective parties.
Okoro held, “This appeal is reserved for judgement until a date to be communicated to parties.”