The Presidential Election Petitions Court has declared Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), as the rightful winner of the February 25, 2023, presidential election.
The verdict was delivered on Wednesday, bringing an end to a period of intense legal scrutiny following the election. The central issue before the tribunal was whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acted correctly in proclaiming Tinubu as the duly elected president based on the majority of lawful votes cast.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, had filed a petition seeking Tinubu’s removal from office. However, the tribunal ruled that Atiku Abubakar did not succeed in substantiating his case to unseat Tinubu.
Additionally, the petition filed by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, was also struck out by the tribunal.
Justice Haruna Tsammani, while delivering the verdict, stated, “This petition accordingly lacks merit. I affirm the return of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the duly elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The parties are to bear their costs.”
The tribunal’s decision marks a critical juncture in Nigeria’s political landscape and reaffirms the legitimacy of Bola Tinubu’s presidency. As the nation absorbs this ruling, it is expected to have profound implications for the country’s political trajectory in the coming years.
