In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has brought an end to a 171-day legal battle to nullify President Bola Tinubu’s election victory. The court rejected the election appeals filed by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Peter Obi of the Labour Party.
The legal saga began on May 8 and concluded on October 26, with the Supreme Court dismissing Atiku and Obi’s appeals, effectively dashing their hopes of overturning President Tinubu’s electoral win.
In the lead judgment delivered by the Chairman of the seven-man panel, Justice Inyang Okoro, the apex court refused to consider President Tinubu’s academic records obtained from Chicago State University, which Atiku sought to use as fresh evidence to support his allegation of certificate forgery against the former Lagos State governor.
The other justices on the panel concurred with the lead judgment, dismissing Atiku and Obi’s appeals.
President Tinubu welcomed the Supreme Court’s verdict and called for the support of all Nigerians, pledging to exceed expectations in his remaining years in office. He praised the judiciary for withstanding pressure and intimidation by political actors.
In response, Alhaji Atiku and the Peoples Democratic Party expressed disappointment with the court’s decision, arguing that it did not uphold the provisions of the law and trashed Nigerians’ expectations.
As the legal battle comes to a close, Nigerians are looking to President Tinubu to address pressing issues such as economic challenges, security, and infrastructure development. The president’s Renewed Hope Agenda for a greater and prosperous Nigeria has gained momentum, and citizens are eager to see its implementation.
Eminent Nigerians have set an agenda for the president, emphasizing the need for unity, reconciliation, and economic stability. They also stress the importance of addressing the ongoing security challenges in the country and enhancing the electoral process to maintain trust among the electorate.
President Tinubu has been called upon to focus on issues such as health, education, agriculture, and food security. Furthermore, there are calls to declare telecoms infrastructure as critical national infrastructure to ensure its security and reliability.
The Supreme Court’s decision marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s political landscape, and the country looks forward to the leadership of President Bola Tinubu as it navigates through various challenges on the path to progress and unity.