The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25 presidential election.
The apex court in its ruling held that the appeal filed by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, lacked merit.
“On the whole, having resolved all the issues against the appellant, it is my view that there is no merit in the appeal and it is hereby dismissed,” Justice Inyang Okoro said.
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“The judgment of the court below delivered on September 6th 2023 affirming the election of the second respondent as the duly elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is hereby affirmed
Atiku had approached the court to overturn the judgment of the presidential election petition tribunal which affirmed Tinubu’s election as president.
Earlier the Supreme Court dismissed Atiku’s application to present fresh evidence to support his appeal at the court.
Atiku had sought the leave of the apex court to submit Tinubu’s credentials obtained from the Chicago State University to prove the president forged the documents he submitted to INEC.
The matters were, however, heard on Monday by a seven-man panel led by Justice John Okoro.
The argument for and against the admissibility of the fresh documents by Atiku dominated the proceedings.
Urging the court to admit the documents, the lead counsel for Atiku, Chris Uche, SAN described the allegation of forgery against the president as a grave constitutional matter that the apex court should look into.
But the counsel to Tinubu, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, urged the court not to admit the fresh documents, adding that INEC was not a party to it.
Reading the lead judgment on Thursday, Okoro said the application was filed after the 180 days prescribed by the law lapsed.
He said the court cannot activate section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to admit fresh evidence.
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