Politics
PEPT: Atiku Concludes Suit Against Tinubu, Court Sets Date For Defense
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, a candidate representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), concluded his presentation before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in Abuja on Friday.
Abubakar is challenging the validity of President Bola Tinubu’s election and seeking its nullification.
Atiku Abubakar, after presenting a total of 27 witnesses and submitting various documentary exhibits as evidence during the court proceedings, made the decision to conclude his case.
He stated that the reason for this decision was that he had utilized all the allotted time for presenting his arguments against Tinubu.
“My lords, at this point in time, may we humbly inform your lordships that this will be our last witness,” Atiku’s lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, told the court.
Continuing, Uche, SAN, said: “Having exhausted the days allocated to us, pursuant to the pre-hearing report and Paragraph 46(5) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, 2022, we most humbly apply the formally close the case for the petitioners.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), represented by its lawyer Mr. Kemi Pinhero, SAN, informed the court that the parties involved had mutually agreed to postpone the commencement of the defense by the respondents until after the upcoming Sallah celebration.
Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, the head of President Tinubu’s legal team, confirmed the agreement and requested the court’s permission for the respondents, starting with INEC, to begin their defense against Atiku’s petition on July 3.
Olanipekun said “My lords, all of us took into consideration some salient factors, especially the fact that some of us will love to travel to celebrate with our families and loved ones.
“Moreover, there is likely to be a two days public holidays next week. We will therefore plead your lordships to adjourn the case till after the Sallah celebration.
“We also want to assure your lordships that on our part, we will not exceed the days allotted to us. We will start and close out case the same week,” Olanipekun, SAN, added
After receiving no objection from the petitioners’ counsel, the five-member panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned the case until July 3 to allow INEC to begin presenting its defense against the petition.
The adjournment took place following the completion of testimony by Atiku’s key witness, Mr. Mike Enahoro-Ebah, who was subsequently excused from the witness box.
During his testimony, Enahoro-Ebah submitted certified copies of President Tinubu’s academic qualifications to the court, which were admitted as evidence and marked as an exhibit.
Equally admitted in evidence and marked as an exhibit by the panel was Tinubu’s certificate of service from Mobile Oil Nigeria Plc, which formed part of his work records, as well as a copy of his Guinean Passport.
Enahoro-Ebah told the court that he applied and obtained the Form EC9, which contained the affidavit of personal particulars, which Tinubu submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in aid of his qualifications to contest the presidential election.
He told the court that his lawyer in the United States of America, USA, also wrote to various schools that the 2nd Respondent, Tinubu, claimed to have attended, and obtained more information about him.
The witness told the court that among the documents he obtained from the USA, included Tinubu’s purported certificate from Chicago State University, which he said belonged to a female.
Also tendered before the court by the witness, was a transcript that was issued in 1977 by South West College, which he said equally established that the Tinubu that attended Chicago State University was a female.
Mr. Enahoro-Ebah told the court that whereas the forwarding letter from his lawyer in the USA, which contained Tinubu’s details, came on November 1, 2022, however, it was nof until April 2023 that he received a copy of the notorised judgement on criminal asset forfeiture proceedings that involved the 2nd Respondent.
Besides, he told the court that documents he obtained from INEC showed that the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, certificate that Tinubu submitted in aid of his qualifications, bore the name, Adekunle.
Despite stiff objections from the INEC, President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, who are Respondents in the matter, the court, admitted all the documents in evidence and marked them as Exhibits PDE-1 to PDE-5.
More so, the witness, said he had in 2022, instituted a direct criminal complaints against Tinubu before a Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja.
He told the court that the Chief Magistrate Court declined jurisdiction to entertain the case.
Expressing his dissatisfaction with the court’s actions, the witness stated that he had written a petition to the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory regarding the matter.
A copy of the court process pertaining to the petition was admitted as evidence and marked as an exhibit by the panel.
When questioned about whether he had made inquiries with the Guinean embassy regarding the second respondent (Tinubu) renouncing his alleged citizenship, the response of the witness was not mentioned in the provided information.
The witness, said: “My lord, I did not have to because the former President of Guinea, Alpha Conde, admitted the issuance of the passport.”
Following insistence by Tinubu’s lawyer, Chief Olanipekun, SAN, that the said passport that was tendered in evidence, expired in 2020, the witness, said: “My lords, the data page indicated that it expired, but citizenship does not expire.”
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has cautioned Barrister Kenneth Okonkwo against making comments capable of undermining former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, warning that such remarks could threaten the party’s unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Eze was reacting to recent remarks by Okonkwo, who reportedly suggested that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had no alternative but to accept Amaechi as his running mate.
SEE ALSO: 2027 Race: Rivers ADC Unveils David Okumgba as Deputy Gov Candidate
He described the statement as “unfortunate, insulting and counterproductive,” saying it could negatively affect public perception of both Atiku and Amaechi.
According to Eze, Atiku’s long political career demonstrates that he is fully capable of making independent decisions on critical political matters without being influenced or compelled.
“Anyone who has followed Atiku Abubakar’s political journey knows that he has a mind of his own and is fully capable of taking decisions on matters of this nature,” Eze said.
The ADC stalwart argued that portraying Amaechi as an imposed choice diminishes the former Rivers State governor’s political achievements and contributions to Nigeria’s democratic development.
He highlighted Amaechi’s political record, noting that he served as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, two-term governor of Rivers State, Minister of Transportation, and presidential aspirant, describing him as one of Nigeria’s most experienced political figures.
Eze also recalled that Amaechi emerged second to President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary and later finished as runner-up to Atiku Abubakar in the ADC presidential primary.
According to him, Amaechi’s emergence as the party’s vice-presidential candidate should be seen as a strategic advantage rather than an imposition.
“Amaechi’s personality, political experience and national appeal add significant value to the ADC presidential ticket,” he stated.
The former publicity secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) further advised Okonkwo to improve his communication style by learning from individuals with proven expertise in political messaging.
Calling for unity within the opposition party, Eze urged ADC leaders, spokespersons and supporters to avoid comments capable of creating unnecessary controversy or weakening the party’s collective resolve ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Our focus should remain on building a united front. Internal disagreements should not distract us from our collective objective of providing Nigerians with a credible alternative,” he said.
He added: “As things stand, we have a common objective. We need unity of purpose and must avoid comments that could weaken our collective resolve. Responsible communication and party cohesion remain essential to the success of the ADC in the forthcoming elections.”
The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the 2027 general election, Prince Adewole Adebayo, has launched a fresh attack on the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the Muslim-Muslim ticket of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima as a political strategy aimed at deceiving Nigerians.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show, Adebayo argued that the 2023 presidential ticket was built on religious sentiment rather than competence, insisting that Nigerians are now more interested in electing leaders who can deliver justice, good governance and economic prosperity.
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According to him, the APC’s same-faith ticket has failed to meet the expectations of many Nigerians, including those who supported it because of the candidates’ religious affiliation.
“There is nothing like the Muslim-Muslim ticket. Even when the contraption was brought up four years ago and I was in Kano, I was asked the same question while meeting with the Ulamas.
“I told them that if you are hoping for a Muslim-Muslim ticket in President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, you will be lucky to even have a single Muslim out of the two.”
Adebayo maintained that leadership in Islam is defined by justice and competence, not by a leader’s religious identity, describing the Tinubu-Shettima administration as a “zero-zero ticket.”
“It turned out now that it’s not a Muslim-Muslim ticket. From the point of view of Muslims in Nigeria, it is a zero-zero ticket because in Islam, what is expected of a leader in Islamic jurisprudence is not the religion of that leader but justice.”
The SDP flagbearer added that Islamic teachings encourage the appointment of only qualified and capable individuals to positions of responsibility.
“The reason why Muslims get involved in politics is to have a just society, and there are guidelines in Islamic jurisprudence regarding politics. In Islam, it is expected that if you are a good Muslim, you do not give public office or responsibility to anyone who is not fit for that.”
He further alleged that the Muslim-Muslim ticket was introduced to manipulate voters through religion instead of presenting credible leadership.
“The whole concept from the beginning was just to defraud the populace by using religious sentiment. What the North and all Nigerians are looking for is a righteous leader, no matter the person.”
Adebayo also criticised the current administration over the country’s socio-economic challenges, arguing that the religious composition of the presidency has not translated into justice or improved living conditions.
He referenced former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, saying even one of the prominent advocates of the Muslim-Muslim ticket has recently been seeking justice.
“So when you say you are looking for a Muslim-Muslim ticket and there is no justice anywhere, even one of the proponents, El-Rufai, who was celebrating it, he and his family are now crying for justice. That is the biggest irony you can have.”
He concluded that Nigerians ahead of the 2027 general election are more concerned about competent leadership, fairness and better governance than the religious background of presidential candidates.
The Ebonyi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for a thorough investigation into an incident involving security personnel attached to the convoy of Governor Francis Nwifuru following the circulation of a viral video on social media.
The video purportedly shows a confrontation between members of the governor’s convoy and occupants of a civilian vehicle along the Centenary City–Chiboy Motors axis of the Afikpo-Abakaliki Road.
According to available information, the incident occurred after a Toyota Camry reportedly collided with a motorcycle rider attached to the governor’s convoy, leaving the rider injured. The ensuing confrontation allegedly resulted in damage to the civilian vehicle.
SEE MORE: Nwifuru Suspends Commissioners, Perm Sec, Exec Secs
Reacting to the development, the PDP’s State Publicity Secretary, Prince Darlington Peter Onwe, called on the Ebonyi State Police Command and the Department of State Services (DSS) to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
He urged security agencies to identify and interview those involved and determine the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
The party also called on the Ebonyi State Government to provide clarification on the incident and disclose the identity and conduct of the security personnel involved.
In addition, the PDP urged relevant authorities to review the operational procedures and rules of engagement for security personnel attached to official convoys to ensure the safety of other road users.
Onwe said the party believes the public deserves a full account of what transpired and urged eyewitnesses and other persons with relevant information to cooperate with investigators.
Responding to the controversy, the Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media, Leo Ekene Oketa, said “the viral video captured only part of the incident and did not present the complete sequence of events.”
He appealed to the public “to refrain from drawing conclusions until all the facts have been established.”
Oketa explained that official convoys, like ambulances, fire service vehicles and other emergency responders, are required to move swiftly in the interest of public safety and national security.
He noted that motorists are expected to comply with lawful traffic directives issued by police officers and convoy personnel to ensure the safe movement of official convoys and prevent accidents.
According to him, “Governor Francis Nwifuru remains committed to professionalism, respect for the rule of law and the protection of lives.”
He added that the circumstances surrounding the incident were being reviewed and urged road users “to remain patient, obey lawful traffic instructions and cooperate with emergency and security personnel in the interest of public safety.”
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