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Obi’s appeal lacking in merit, substance, Tinubu tells S’Court

President Bola Tinubu has declared that Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi's petition lacks validity, substance, and good faith.

Tinubu maintained that the presidential election was peacefully conducted throughout the country, and the results of elections were meticulously and precisely recorded in the various forms of EC8As, despite Obi's appeal being based on claims denied by the election petition tribunal.

This was stated in a response by his main attorney, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, to Obi's appeal against the tribunal's ruling.

"The entire petition was nothing more than a jamboree of sorts, prosecuted more in the media than in the courtroom, and the lower court, being a court of law and not of sentiments, dutifully threw away their petition after a painstaking consideration of same," he stated.

When seen from every viewpoint, it lacks worth, substance, and good faith.

"Be it noted that, in contrast to previous election petitions over which this honourable court has presided (in the past) and made far-reaching pronouncements on diverse issues, including but not limited to ballot box snatching, vote buying, voter intimidation, military interference, thuggery, ballot stuffing, violence, disenfranchisement, non-recording of votes in form EC8A, which is the building block or the base of the pyramid, and such other electoral vices,

He noted that Obi failed to prove his allegations of non-compliance and corrupt practices as required by law.

"Instructively, however, the lower court proceeded to determine the petition on its merits, while itemising several monumental failures of the petitioners to provide any evidence in support of their much-touted case," Tinubu stated.

"While affirming the election and declaration of the 2nd respondent at the referenced presidential election, the lower court also found that the appellants did not prove any of their allegations on the requisite standards of proof."

Tinubu informed the Supreme Court that Obi was on a "fishing expedition" in his response to the 25% mandate in the FCT.

"The other very remote contention is that the second respondent did not receive 25% of the votes cast in the Federal Capital Territory," he stated.

"With much respect to the appellants, the petition is more of a fishing expedition; much more of evocation of thunder without dews."

Tinubu, however, said the tribunal judgment was in order, adding that, “It is against the well-considered judgment of the lower court that the appellants have brought this appeal.”