In a development that Nigerians both home and abroad will eagerly follow through the news, the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal Abuja is set to finally commence its hearing.
Politics Nigeria had earlier reported that the pre-hearing in the petitions challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election will commence today, May 8.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission declared that Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress polled 8,794,726 votes to win the election.
The commission declared that Atiku came second with 6,984,520 votes, while it announced Labour Party’s Peter Obi as the second runner-up with 6,101,533 votes.
But Atiku, Obi and some other parties rejected the results announced by INEC and had approached the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to annul Tinubu’s victory.
Technically, today’s proceedings are specifically to sort preliminary applications before proceeding with the substantive petitions.
Here is a list of challenges to presidential elections over the years.
1999
President Olusegun Obasanjo was challenged at the tribunal by Chief Olu Falae.
2003
Muhammadu Buhari challenged Obasanjo’s re-election
2007
Muhammadu Buhari and Atiku Abubakar challenged the victory of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua
2011
Buhari challenged the election of President Goodluck Jonathan.
2015
Jonathan who was the then incumbent president conceded defeat and congratulated the winner.
2019
Atiku Abubakar challenged the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.