Nigeria’s Presidential Election Petitions Court unanimously rejected petitions contesting President Bola Tinubu’s electoral victory on Wednesday. The landmark ruling affirms his win in the historic 2023 presidential polls.

Presided by Justice Haruna Tsammani, the five-judge panel dismissed cases filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, and Allied Peoples Movement. The petitioners had alleged irregularities and challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of Tinubu as winner.

However, after a marathon 12-hour session, the Tribunal stated the petitions “lacked merit” and upheld the election of Tinubu, former Lagos State governor, as Nigeria’s validly elected president.

Broadcast live from the Court of Appeal in Abuja, the proceeding drew massive attention across the country. Senior Advocates of Nigeria crowded the courtroom, including Vice President Kashim Shettima and other senior officials. However, Tinubu himself remains in India for the G20 Summit along with his erstwhile challengers who skipped the Tribunal’s final judgment.

While the opposition parties can still appeal the ruling, analysts viewed the Tribunal’s unambiguous verdict as a massive victory for Tinubu.