Peter Obi formally files election petition asking tribunal to cancel polls and order Inec to conduct fresh ones

FORMER Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has formally filed a petition with the elections tribunal to protest the outcome of the February 25 poll in which he was one of the contestants.

On Saturday February 25, Nigerians went to the polls to elect a new president and the Independent National Election Commission (Inec) subsequently declared Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the winner. Among the main gladiators in the contest were Asiwaju Tinubu of APC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Obi of the Labour Party and former Kano State governor Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).

Inec chairman Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who served as the returning officer for the presidential election, declared Asiwaju Tinubu the victor of the contest with 8,794,726 votes, defeating Alhaji Abubakar of the PDP, who came second with 6,984,520 votes and Governor Obi who came third with 6,101,533 votes. However, the PDP and Labour Party have refused to accept the results.

Now, Governor Obi has formally challenged the results on the law courts, four weeks after the election held. His spokesman Dr Yunusa Tanko, disclosed that it took so long because the former governor wanted to properly collate materials to back up his claim of massive rigging, voters intimidation and corruption allegations against Inec.

Dr Tanko said:  “It is official, the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi has filed his petition to the presidential elections tribunal in Abuja. The process of reclaiming the people’s mandate has started.

“You know Obi doesn’t like talking without getting facts. That’s why he took his time before he officially filed his case at the tribunal.”

Ironically, Governor Obi has not challenged the collation of the results, as he is just asking the court to nullify the elections and conduct fresh ones. His petition questions the validity of Asiwaju Tinubu's candidacy and also challenges Inec for breaching the law by failing to use electronic machines to upload polling station results.

According to Governor Obi, the election was invalid because of corrupt practices and non-compliance with the provision of the Electoral Act. He is thus seeking an order cancelling the presidential election and mandating Inec to conduct fresh polls.

Election observers from the European Union, the Commonwealth and other groups reported a range of problems, among them failures in systems designed to prevent vote manipulation. These observers criticised Inec for poor planning and voting delays but they did not allege fraud, while the commission itself apologised for the technical problems during the count.

Nigeria's Court of Appeal, which serves as the election tribunal has 180 days to hear and make a ruling on Governor Obi's challenge. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has also said he would petition the court and has until midnight tomorrow to file his papers.

If any candidate is not satisfied with the outcome of the tribunal, they can approach the Supreme Court, which will deliberate on an appeal within 60 days. Nigeria's next president will be sworn in on May 29.