The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) has scolded petitions challenging President Bola Tinubu’s win in the 2023 election, saying they failed to provide evidence to prove their case.
While the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) took Tinubu to court seeking the nullification of his victory, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), and their candidates in the poll, also challenged the former Lagos State governor’s win in the election.
But while delivering judgement in the ruling that upheld Tinubu’s election, a member of the five-person panel Justice Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf berated the petitioners for their inability to prove their cases.
“The petitioners did not understand the explanation of the first respondent or were just fixated on their belief that they won the election without any cogent and credible evidence, and they did not even bother to place such credible evidence before this court,” she said at the Court of Appeal premises in Abuja.
“Were they expecting the court to go and gather evidence from the street or the market? Or to be persuaded or intimidated by threats on social media. That is not the way of the court.”
Justice Monsurat said: “It’s clear that the petitions from the onset were engaged in a wild goose chase and inquisitorial adventure”.
The five-member panel of judges had dismissed petitions against Tinubu’s victory in the February poll after a marathon judgement at the Appeal Court in Abuja.
While the Labour Party and PDP have rejected the court verdict describing it as unacceptable, President Tinubu has called on the opposition to team up with his government.
“The President urges his valiant challengers to inspire their supporters in the trust that the spirit of patriotism will now and forever be elevated above partisan considerations, manifesting into support for our Government to improve the livelihood of all Nigerians,” a statement by Tinubu’s media aide, Ajuri Ngelale, added.
