LAGOS: Nigeria’s opposition presidential candidate Peter Obi, who came third in the February 25 election, has filed a petition in the court seeking to overturn the election won by the ruling party candidate.
The petition dated Monday is likely the initial stage in a seemingly long legal battle over the February election, as has happened with past presidential contests in Africa’s most-populous nation. The Labour Party’s Peter Obi was a surprise third candidate whose appeal to younger voters helped him challenge the dominance of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the country’s politics.
Former Lagos governor and the ruling All Progressive Congress stalwart Bola Tinubu won the election with around 37 percent of vote, but opposition parties say delays in electronic uploading of results helped massive vote rigging.
The petition was filed in an Abuja appeals court. Obi alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission or INEC broke the electoral law. The Commission has denied any illegal activity, though it acknowledged some technical problems.
Among other claims, the petition says Tinubu was not even qualified to be a candidate because of a 1990s drug-related forfeiture of nearly $500,000 from one of his accounts in a United States bank. Tinubu denies any wrongdoing. “The election… was invalid by reason of corrupt practices and non-compliance with the provisions of the electoral act,” the petition said.
Main opposition presidential candidate
Atiku Abubakar of the main opposition PDP presidential candidate has also said he will challenge the results, calling the election a “rape of democracy”.
President Muhammadu Buhari steps down in May after two terms, leaving Nigeria grappling with widespread insecurity, economic woes and growing poverty. Nigerians had hoped the presidential ballot would give them a chance to be heard, but many were disappointed by the way the election was conducted. Voters and opposition parties complained last month that technical mishaps with voting machines caused delays and allowed for vote rigging, which the electoral commission has denied. International observers, including from the European Union, noted major logistical problems, disenfranchised voters and a lack of transparency.
Earlier on Tuesday, president-elect Tinubu appealed for unity, saying “the time for politicking is gone”. – AFP/APP
