The highest court in Nigeria, the Supreme Court, has entered a crucial phase in the legal battle following the presidential election, with judgment reserved on an appeal filed by Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This decision comes after the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) affirmed President Bola Tinubu's victory in the election, a ruling that was met with a legal challenge.
A seven-member panel led by Justice John Okoro, after hearing arguments and adopting final submissions from the legal teams of both parties, announced the judgment's reservation. The court also addressed arguments related to the appellants' motion to introduce fresh evidence.
Chris Uche (SAN), the lawyer representing the appellants, pleaded with the court to grant the motion and accept their appeal, emphasizing the need to disqualify President Tinubu. On the other side, legal representatives for the respondents, including Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN (representing the Independent National Electoral Commission), Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN (representing President Tinubu), and Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN (representing the All Progressives Congress), strongly urged the court to dismiss both the motion and the appeal for a lack of merit.
The Supreme Court briefly adjourned but has now resumed to hear the appeal filed by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM). The decision in this case is anticipated to have significant political and legal ramifications
