President Bola Tinubu has stirred up a legal controversy by asking the Presidential Election Petition Court (PREPEC) in Abuja to disqualify his rival, Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), from any possible rerun presidential election. Tinubu claimed that only he and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have the constitutional right to recontest if the court nullifies the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
Tinubu made this submission in his final written address to the court in response to Obi’s petition challenging his declaration as president by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Tinubu argued that Obi and LP are legally barred from contesting the rerun election by virtue of having participated in two previous presidential elections, citing Section 137(1)(b) of the Constitution.
However, Obi rejected Tinubu’s argument as baseless and misleading, and urged the court not to undermine the will of the people as shown in the election. Obi claimed that he won the majority of lawful votes cast at the poll, and that Tinubu’s victory was based on falsified results and manipulated figures. He appealed to the court to remove Tinubu without delay.
The court, presided over by Justice Mary Odili, has reserved judgment on the petitions till a later date.
The legal tussle between Tinubu and Obi has raised questions about the electoral process and the constitutional provisions governing presidential elections. Some legal experts have expressed doubts about Tinubu’s interpretation of the Constitution, while some political analysts have warned that a rerun election could trigger violence and instability in the country.
