President Tinubu Triumphant As Supreme Court Backs Election Victory

Nigeria’s Supreme Court has upheld Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election after dismissing appeals by his main challengers, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP).

A seven-judge panel ruled Thursday that opposition claims of fraud, electoral violations, and questions over Tinubu’s eligibility were without merit.

The court rejected Atiku’s grounds of appeal on disqualification issues, non-compliance with electoral law, his vote share in Abuja, and alleged malpractice. Justice Inyang Okoro stated Atiku’s appeal lacked merit and affirmed the election tribunal’s September verdict backing Tinubu’s win.

On Obi’s appeal, the court held it had already settled the issue of alleged double nomination of Tinubu’s vice president, Kashim Shettima, in a previous May ruling. Okoro said Obi’s case should not have been brought again for litigation. The court dismissed the LP appeal as lacking merit.

In September, the Presidential Election Tribunal had rejected petitions by Obi and Atiku after reviewing claims of INEC impropriety and constitutional breaches by Tinubu.

Atiku’s late bid to submit new evidence alleging Tinubu presented forged credentials to INEC was also dismissed by the Supreme Court as outside the window for fresh appeals.