The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Thursday upheld the February 25, 2023 election of President Bola Tinubu and dismissed the political opposition’s challenges, which argued that the vote was flawed and that President Tinubu was not qualified to seek or hold the presidency.
The court held in a majority ruling that the grounds of the challenges were “devoid of merits,” ending a dispute that had put Nigeria on the edge for eight months after the February 25 election.
The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal had also rejected the petitions last month.
Two other candidates in the election separately challenged President Tinubu’s victory, alleging that he failed to meet the minimum educational qualification to run, did not secure the required number of votes and that the umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission, did not follow its own provisions in collating and announcing the election results.
During a televised hearing in Abuja, the Supreme Court dismissed the challenges from the People’s Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party’s Peter Obi in their entirety, affirming the position of the election tribunal that President Tinubu’s victory followed the due process.
“It is my view that there is no merit in this appeal,” Justice Inyang Okoro, who read the ruling of the seven-member court panel, said of Abubakar’s petition.
A similar ruling was subsequently issued in Obi’s case.
The apex court also refused to admit new evidence that Abubakar’s lawyers said proved their allegations that President Tinubu tendered forged academic credentials from an American university.
The court said the issue of the alleged forgery was not reflected as one of the grounds of the original petition within the time frame provided by the Nigerian Constitution.
“Facts and documents which were not pleaded in the petition have no place in deciding the dispute between the parties,” Justice Okoro ruled.
President Tinubu, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, lauded the ruling.
“The court has done justice to all issues put up for consideration in the petitions on the merits of the law, without fear or favour,” the president said.
But the PDP said it was “alarmed, disappointed and gravely concerned” by the court’s finding, arguing it was inconsistent with Nigerian law.
Thursday’s ruling did not come as a surprise to many Nigerians because no presidential election in the country has ever been annulled by a court.
Although Nigeria has a history of legal challenges to election results, the Supreme Court has never overturned a presidential election.
Some have said the conditions stipulated in Nigeria’s laws make it difficult to prove irregularities, and some questioned the independence of the judiciary.
Be that as it may, President Tinubu’s election was largely described by observers as an improvement from the 2019 election.
“It is our considered opinion that following the Supreme Court’s validation of President Tinubu’s electoral victory, Nigeria must move forward”
The ruling by the seven Supreme Court judges, which is final, is in line with previous presidential elections that have been challenged in court.
The victory is a triumph for democracy and a testament to the overwhelming support given to the APC and President Tinubu by the majority of voters in the country.
The Supreme Court’s decision has conclusively put an end to the long-standing legal dispute surrounding the 2023 presidential election in which President Tinubu emerged as the resounding winner.
This judgment mirrors the collective will of the Nigerian people who voted overwhelmingly for the APC and President Tinubu, and it reinforces the confidence of the nation in our judiciary as the ultimate defender of the people’s interests.
The extended legal process has further underscored the strength of our democracy. With the opposition exercising their constitutional rights, it is now time to unite with President Tinubu to build a new Nigeria.
It is our considered opinion that following the Supreme Court’s validation of President Tinubu’s electoral victory, Nigeria must move forward.
There is a need to end the tension in the country and move forward together as Africa’s most populous nation.
We call on all political leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi to eschew bitterness and work together in harmony for the country’s overall good.
Now that our highest court has ruled according to our laws, any unhealthy debate and character assassination amongst political parties and supporters of political office seekers should stop and give room for healing, restoration and unity for development.
Nigerians should always appreciate and respect the judiciary in the interest of peace and harmonious coexistence of the country.
No Nigerian should allow him or herself to be used to divide the country based on political differences, but unite and support the person the Supreme Court has confirmed for development to thrive in the country.
All political adversaries should respect the ruling of the Supreme Court as the final arbiter in the 2023 presidential election by coming together as a united nation.
It would not be in the nation’s interest if the opposition continues to heat up the polity by refusing to accept the apex court’s ruling.
Nigerians would continue to find it difficult to have a nation they desire if opposition elements continue to feed the citizens with divisive messages.
Now that the legal contest regarding the outcome of the presidential election is now behind us, it is time for all of us to come together and move forward, into a season of governing that is without distraction.
President Tinubu has made it clear that he would be a President for all Nigerians, regardless of regional, ethnic, partisan or religious affiliations.
We, therefore, urge him to continue to strive to rebuild the trust of the citizens in the ways and workings of government.
We firmly believe that Nigeria would continue to thrive under President Tinubu’s leadership, because he is a dedicated, committed and passionate leader whose unwavering motivation has always been the welfare of the Nigerian people.
We enjoin all citizens to unite in love as they support the new government and should hold those in power accountable for good governance.
We appeal to all Nigerians to unite and build a stronger country with the new administration.
