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Supreme Court dismisses Atiku’s plea to file fresh evidence against Tinubu; Says victory can’t be annulled over non electronic transmission of election results
By Ebere Agozie
Abuja, , Oct.26, 2023
The Supreme Court has dismissed the motion by former Vice President and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, seeking leave of the court to file fresh evidence in his appeal against the victory of President Bola Tinubu, in the February 25, presidential election.
Ruling on the motion, Justice John Okoro, held that a clinical look at the issues formulated by all the parties is the argument of whether the court as presently constituted has the power to grant the motion.
Okoro held that out of the seven issues distilled by Atiku for determination, none related to or covered forgery, which the appellant is seeking to bring in.
“The Constitution does not permit that, and this court has no jurisdiction to grant the filing of fresh evidence that was not pleaded at the PEPC”.
The Supreme Court noted that Atiku did not even deem it fit to file for an amendment of his pleadings and for extension of time, since the 180 days allowed by the Constitution had elapsed since September 17, 2023.
Atiku, had in the motion dated Oct. 5, pleaded the apex court to grant him leave to bring in additional evidence by way of depositions on oath from the Chicago State University for use in his appeal to wit: the certified discovery deposition made by Caleb Westberg on behalf of Chicago State University on October 3, 2023, disclaiming the certificate presented by the 2nd respondent, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The 32-page deposition was released to the former Vice President on the orders of Judge Nancy Maldonado of the District Court of Illinois, Eastern Division, Illinois, United States of America.
Also, the Supreme Court said the failure by the INEC to transmit election results electronically did not affect the outcome of the election and could not warrant the nullification of the result of the presidential election.
Justice John Okoro made the pronouncement in a lead judgment on the appeal by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; and the candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, seeking to nullify the February 25, presidential election of President Bola Tinubu.
Okoro also dismissed the issue of the 25 per cent requirement for Abuja, as a none issue.
