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| President Muhammadu Buhari, and Atiku Abubakar |
The wait will soon be over as the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal is set to deliver judgment in the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar challenging President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in the February 23 general election.
According to a report by Daily Trust, Chairman of the five-man panel, Justice Mohammed Garba had while reserving the judgment on August 21 stated that the date would be communicated to all parties in the matter.
The date for the judgment has not been fixed by the tribunal but by law the duration of the petition will lapse on Saturday September 14. Also, Section 134 (2) and (3) of the Electoral Act, 2010, provides for time limit for election petitions to be concluded within 180 days the report said.
As Nigerians await the Tribunal's judgment this week, both counsel to INEC, Yunus Ustaz Usman (SAN), Buhari, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and APC, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), all asked the Tribunal to dismiss the petition challenging the victory of Muhammadu Buhari in the recently conducted presidential election.
However, lead counsel to the PDP and Atiku, Levy Uzoukwu (SAN) asked the tribunal to hold that Section 138(1) of Electoral Act, any candidate who submitted false information would nullify their candidacy.
He added that by the judgement of the Supreme Court in Abdulrauf Moddibbo against Mustapha Usman SC/790/2019 delivered on 30th July, qualifications for election is not a pre-election matter.
He said that Buhari in his Form CF001submitted to INEC listed three certificates such as First School Leaving, WAEC and Cadet certificate from Military School but failed to attach them to the form.
