In a significant legal development, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed Peter Obi’s petition challenging Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2022 presidential election.
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The dismissal centered on allegations of INEC’s non-compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act.
Peter Obi, the former vice president and candidate of the Labour Party, had lodged a petition asserting that INEC had not adhered to the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act during the election, which ultimately saw Bola Tinubu declared as the winner.
However, the tribunal, presided over by Justice [Judge’s Name], rendered a verdict in favor of Bola Tinubu. The ruling cited a crucial point of contention – Peter Obi’s failure to state the polling units in question regarding INEC’s alleged non-compliance.
The trial judge emphasized the importance of providing specific details in such cases, highlighting that the failure to specify the affected polling units hindered a comprehensive evaluation of the alleged irregularities.
“Pleading must set out material facts and particulars. In the instant petition, there was no effort to prove specific allegations, particulars of complaints” said the Tribunal
The law is clear that where someone alleges irregularities in a particular poling unit, such person must prove the particular irregularities in that poling unit before that petition can succeed, said the Tribunal
The Petitioners, did not prove the particular poling unit where election did not take place neither did they specify particulars of polling units where there are alleged complaints of irregularities.
“It was only in one instance that figures were given of alleged suppressed votes and we all know that elelctions are about figures”.
The dismissal of Peter Obi’s petition underscores the importance of precision and specificity in legal challenges related to electoral matters.
It serves as a reminder that petitioners must provide clear and detailed information to substantiate their claims.
(C)ControlTV2023.
