Supreme Court dismisses Atiku’s appeal challenging Tribunal judgement and affirms Tinubu as winner of 2023 election

The Supreme Court, on Thursday, Oct. 26, dismissed the appeal filed by Atiku Abubakar against the election of President Bola Tinubu and affirmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the winner of the presidential election held in the country on February 25.

In a verdict delivered on Thursday, the apex court ruled that the appeal filed by Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lacked merit.

“On the whole, it is my view that there is no merit in this appeal,” Justice Inyang Okoro said.

Atiku had sought to overturn the judgment of the presidential election petition tribunal which affirmed Tinubu’s election as president.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court also upheld the ruling by the Appeal Court that a candidate does not need to get at least 25 per cent of votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to be declared as the country’s president.

Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi had wanted Tinubu’s presidency to be nullified on the ground that he did not get 25 per cent of votes in the FCT.

However, the Appeal Court ruled that their petition was immaterial.

The duo then took the matter to the apex court, seeking the overturning of Tinubu’s win.

However, Justice Okoro corroborated the Appeal Court’s ruling, saying the FCT has no special status.

PDP Chieftain, Dele Momodu reacted, pointing out that “constitutional requirement is always sacrosanct” and the 25% requirement is in Nigeria’s constitution.