Their argument is centered around the contention that both Tinubu and the Vice President, Kashim Shettma, were ineligible to contest the election....
By Akeme Muna
The Labour Party and its Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have once again reiterated their plea to the Presidential Election Petition Court, urging them to nullify the victory of President Bola Tinubu.
Their argument is centered around the contention that both Tinubu and the Vice President, Kashim Shettma, were ineligible to contest the election.
Another point they raised is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) being wrong in declaring Tinubu the winner, as he allegedly did not secure 25 percent of the votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
In response to the joint final address by Tinubu and Shettima, who sought to have the Labour Party’s petition dismissed, Obi and his party emphasized the alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act and other relevant regulations. They pointed out that INEC’s failure to electronically transmit the presidential election results from polling units to its viewing portal was a significant issue of non-compliance.
Furthermore, the Labour Party and its candidate highlighted their efforts to substantiate their case by calling 13 witnesses and presenting substantial evidence, in contrast to only one witness from INEC, one from Tinubu and Shettima, and none from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
They also argued that the reported forfeiture proceedings involving Tinubu in a United States District Court should have led to his disqualification by INEC from running for the election.
Regarding the issue of obtaining 25 percent of votes in the FCT, the Labour Party and Peter Obi contended that it is a standalone requirement for the presidential election. They disagreed with the notion that the FCT should be treated as one state alongside Nigeria’s 36 states, where the winning candidate must obtain at least 25 percent of the votes in two-thirds of all states (37 states).
“Hence, the deliberate amendment of the drafters of the 1999 Constitution, to include the additional requirement of 25 percent votes in the FCT must not be rendered redundant as it is possible that the drafters intended that the popularity of the winning candidate must extend not only to an appreciable geographical spread, but also to the FCT being the capital city and melting pot for all Nigerians and which would truly reflect the will of all Nigerians.”
In conclusion, the Labour Party and Peter Obi urged the court to uphold their petition and grant the reliefs they seek.
