Imo leads as tribunal records 786 petitions over 2019 elections

Imo state has the highest number of petitions filed against the 2019 elections.

Zainab Bulkachuwa, president of the Court of Appeal, disclosed this during the inaugural sitting of the presidential election tribunal on Wednesday.

She said while Imo has the highest number of petitions, 76, there was no petition filed to the tribunal from Jigawa state.

“There were petitions from all the states of the federation, excluding Jigawa state where no election petition has been filed,” she said.

“There are presently 786 petitions with Imo state having the highest number of 76 petitions which necessitated the posting of 6 panels to the state.

“In a similar manner, section 239 sub-section 1(a) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended stipulates that the court of appeal has original jurisdiction to the exclusion of any other court in Nigeria to hear and determine any question as to whether any person has been validly elected to the office of the president or vice president of the federation. Hence, the emergence of this panel, which is empowered to look into the various petitions filed against the just concluded presidential elections. As of today, we have 4 petitions.”

Zainab assured all stakeholders that litigants will be given equal opportunity to present their cases in accordance to the constitution and in an orderly manner, requesting cooperation.

Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is challenging President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory at the tribunal.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Buhari winner of the February presidential election.