The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in Abuja has reserved judgment on a petition filed by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) to nullify the election of President Bola Tinubu. The APM’s petition argues that Vice President Kashim Shettima, nominated twice by the All Progressives Congress (APC) for different elective positions, renders Tinubu’s candidacy invalid.
During the court proceedings, the APM, through its lawyer, urged the court to remove Tinubu from office and withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, Tinubu’s legal team, along with the APC and INEC, argued that the petition lacked merit and should be dismissed.
President Tinubu’s lawyers contended that the issue raised by the APM had already been decided by the Supreme Court, and they stated that the petition failed to disclose a reasonable cause of action or substance. Both the APC and INEC also urged the court to dismiss the petition.
After listening to all parties, the panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani stated that the judgment date would be communicated to them.
In the petition, the APM argued that the withdrawal of the initially nominated Vice-Presidential candidate, Kabiru Masari, invalidated Tinubu’s candidacy. The party claimed a gap between Masari’s withdrawal, the actual withdrawal of his nomination, and Tinubu’s purported replacement with Senator Kashim Shettima. The APM sought a declaration that Shettima was not qualified to contest as the Vice-Presidential candidate and requested the nullification of Tinubu’s votes and the setting aside of his Certificate of Return.
The PEPC will ultimately make a judgment on the APM’s petition challenging President Tinubu’s election.
