Atiku had no case – S’Court

A’Court removes APC senator, Rep
APC, PDP, others react

NIGERIA’S Supreme Court has dismissed former Vice President and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer at the February 23 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s appeal seeking to reverse President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory that was affirmed by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) in September.

  The seven-member panel of Justices of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhamad, in their unanimous judgement,  dismissed Atiku and PDP’s appeal against PEPT’s verdict yesterday in Abuja while delivering judgement on the 66 grounds of appeal filed by the appellants.

  According to the court, the appeal against President Buhari’s victory lacked merit, adding that reasons for their judgement will be given on a date to be communicated soon.

  “We have examined all the briefs and the exhibits for over two weeks and we agree that there is no merit in this appeal. The appeal is therefore dismissed,” Justice Tanko Muhammad said.

  Similarly, a Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto, yesterday, returned Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates at the February general elections, Ibrahim Danbaba and Balarabe Kakale as Senator and House of Representatives member in the National Assembly respectively.

  The appellate court set aside the judgements delivered by Sokoto State Election Petitions Tribunal which dismissed the appellants’ petitions in favour of the respondents who are All Progressive Congress (APC) candidates, Abubakar Shehu-Tambuwal and Aliyu Shehu, who were declared winners of the elections into Sokoto South Senatorial District and Bodinga/Dange-Shuni/Tureta Federal Constituency respectively.

  According to Justice Frederick Oho, who presided over the three-man panel that heard the appeal filed by winners, details on the judgement will be given later.

  This follows a day after Court of Appeal, while delivering its judgement over a case filed by PDP’s candidate, Abubakar Abdullahi against the election of incumbent House of Representatives member, Bala Hassan of APC, ordering a fresh election in Sokoto North-Sokoto South Federal Constituency of Sokoto State, mandating INEC to conduct election within 90 days.

  Meanwhile, reactions have continued to trail the verdict of Supreme Court which has put every contention in the disputed election to rest.

  Congratulating President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, as well as other party leaders and members of the party, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC commended the apex court for dismissing Atiku and PDP’s petition, describing the verdict as a product of the court to defy blackmail and intimidation.

  But PDP received the judgement from a different stroke, describing it as a travesty of justice that God will surely revisit.

  National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, stated this yesterday in Abuja, while reacting to the judgement while thanking Nigerians for rallying behind PDP in its efforts to deepen democracy in the country.

  According to a statement issued by his media aide, Ike Abonyi, the apex court has given its ruling but the ultimate judgment will come from God.