The ongoing Presidential Election Petition Court, has struck out the prayers of Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The court held that the prayer is incompetent, adding that the claims that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reduces its votes for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was not proven beyond reasonable doubt.
According to the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five member panel,
“LP said INEC reduced their scores and added it to APC votes but the LP couldn’t supply us with their actual votes before the said reductions, neither did they state the units where it happened.
“LP’s prayer that Peter Obi be declared winner is incompetent and hereby struck out….”
“APC’s petition challenging the membership of Peter Obi in LP is incompetent and hereby overruled.
“LP said INEC reduced their scores and added it to APC votes but the LP couldn’t supply us with their actual votes before the said reductions, neither did they state the units where it happened….”
“None of the spreadsheets and forensic reports that Obi and LP relied upon were attached as annexures to their petitions.
“it is unimaginable that a petitioner will allege widespread rigging in 176,000 Polling units, over 8,000 wards, 774 LGAs, 36 States and FCT without stating the specific place where the alleged irregularities occur.
Tribunal said the law is very clear that where someone allege irregularities in a particular poling unit, such person must prove the particular irregularities in that poling unit for him to succeed in his petition.
The Petitioners did not prove the particular polling unit where election did not take place or where voters were oppressed.
The tribunal said the petitioners only made “generic accusations of irregularities in the election but failed to specify the anomaly, the places where it occurred and those affected.” On the Peter Obi/LP petition
Peter Obi and LP claimed to have scored the majority of lawful votes cast, they failed to state the number of lawful votes they scored.
The determination of election is about figures,” Tribunal said.
They also failed to prove that their votes were suppressed by failing to specify the number of votes suppressed.” Tribunal on LP/Peter Obi petition
