End of the road for Obi, Atiku as Tinubu wins at Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has struck out the appeal of Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of Labour Party in the February 25 election.

In its ruling on Thursday, the seven-member panel held that the issues canvassed by Obi were the same as that of Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), thus there was no need for a repeat.

Earlier, the court had struck out Atiku’s appeal for lack of merit.

Justice Inyang Okoro held that Atiku failed to prove that he won the election, stating that there was no alternative figure of votes to counter that validly declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The Supreme Court said it can’t manufacture votes in support of Atiku and PDP.

The apex court dismissed all the grounds of appeal of Atiku and PDP on qualification, non-compliance with the Electoral Act, the 25% votes in FCT, and electoral malpractices.

The court sat over Obi’s appeal for about five minutes.

Regarding Obi’s petition on double nomination of Vice-President Kashim Shettima, the court held that the issue had been dealt with in its ruling on 26th May 2023.

It held that it could not allow the matter to be relitigated.

“There must be an end to litigation. This matter ought not to have raised. This court has settled this matter when the petition was pending before PEPC. This appeal lacks merit and his hereby dismissed,” it held.

“It is our decision that this appeal shall abide with the decision in that of Atiku.”

All members of the panel of judges agreed that Obi’s petition was devoid of merit.