The Supreme Court has deferred judgment in the appeals lodged by Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party, and the Labour Party challenging the Presidential Election Petition Court’s verdict that validated President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the presidential election.
A seven-member panel of the court, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, declared this on Monday after the parties’ legal representatives presented their briefs of argument and final submissions.
The Supreme Court also entertained arguments from the parties’ lawyers regarding Atiku’s motion to submit fresh evidence related to forged documents.
Mr. Chris Uche, representing Atiku Abubakar, urged the court to grant the motion, allow their appeal, satisfy the requested prayers, and disqualify Tinubu.
In response, the counsel for the Respondents, Abubakar Mahmoud for the Independent National Electoral Commission, Wole Olanipekun for President Tinubu, and Akin Olujinmi for the All Progressives Congress, implored the court to dismiss both the motion and appeal for a lack of merit.
After resuming, the court proceeded to hear the appeal of the Labour Party and Allied Peoples Movement, during which the party was asked to withdraw its appeal due to an absence of specific issues for determination.
The counsel for the APM, Machukwu Umeh, withdrew the appeal, and the respondents did not contest this withdrawal. Consequently, the apex court dismissed the appeal.
