INEC Speaks On Calls For Tribunal To Nullify Tinubu’s Victory

Nigeria’s electoral body, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has broken its silence after presidential candidates petitioned the tribunal seeking the nullification of the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.

Recall that Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), in separate petitions, asked the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja to void Tinubu’s emergence as President-elect.

In his petition marked CA/PEPC/05/2023, Atiku said the declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the presidential election was invalid by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

He further argued that Tinubu’s election was invalid by reason of corrupt practices and called for the withdrawal of the Certificate of Return that was issued to Tinubu by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

While in his petition marked CA/PEPC/03/2023, Obi maintained that Tinubu was not duly elected by a majority of the lawful votes cast at the time of the election, alleging that there was rigging in 11 states.

He also urged the tribunal to determine that, at the time of the presidential election, Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, were not qualified to contest the election.

In a chat with The Punch on Tuesday, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the commission does not comment on cases filed by political parties and their candidates.