Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal Rejects EU Election Observers Mission Report
In a significant development in the aftermath of the 25th February presidential election in Nigeria, the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal made a decision that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape. On Wednesday, the tribunal handed down a ruling rejecting the European Union Election Observers Mission report, which had been tendered as evidence by Peter Obi and the Labour Party.
The tribunal’s decision was primarily based on the grounds that the report was not presented by an official representative of the European Union Election Observers Mission, the authorized author, and custodian of the document. This ruling cast doubts on the authenticity and admissibility of the report as evidence in the ongoing election petition.
Furthermore, the tribunal also dismissed another crucial piece of evidence put forth by the petitioners: 18,088 blurred results sheets. The tribunal ruled that these results sheets were not properly tied to specific polling units, rendering them irrelevant to the case. The petitioners failed to specify the polling units to which the results referred, a fundamental requirement in presenting election-related evidence.
Interestingly, it was revealed that the actual copy of the EU Election Observers Mission report had been previously submitted by Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while prosecuting their petition before the tribunal. This revelation has added a layer of complexity to the ongoing legal battle, raising questions about the consistency of evidence and the potential impact on the overall outcome of the case.
The ruling by the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal has heightened tensions surrounding the disputed election results, and political analysts and legal experts are closely watching how this decision will affect the ongoing legal proceedings and the wider political landscape in Nigeria.
