On September 6th, 2023, a Nigerian appellate court firmly dismissed all opposition party requests to overturn President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s contested victory in the February presidential election. In response to this decision, both the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his counterpart from the Labour Party, Peter Obi, voiced their vehement objections. Here, we delve into the details.
The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his counterpart from the Labour Party, Peter Obi, resolutely rejected the judgment delivered on September 6, 2023, by an Abuja tribunal, affirming Bola Tinubu’s rightful election as President of Nigeria.
In a unanimous decision, the Abuja Court of Appeal dismissed the opposition candidates’ petitions, citing their inability to substantiate the merits of their respective cases.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s exuberant celebration in New Delhi
A jubilant Bola Ahmed Tinubu celebrated this verdict with a clenched right fist raised high. In a video shared online, he was seen surrounded by his government ministers and cabinet advisors during his visit to New Delhi, India, where he attended his first G20 summit.
The legal saga surrounding Nigeria’s presidential election has been closely watched both domestically and internationally. As the dust settles on this judicial chapter, President Tinubu’s victory stands reaffirmed, leaving the nation with the task of moving forward under his leadership. The implications of this decision are expected to reverberate through Nigeria’s political landscape, making it a development worth following closely in the days to come.