The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal lodged by Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the recent general election, upholding the victory of President Bola Tinubu. The court's decision has brought closure to a contentious electoral dispute that has captured the nation's attention.
Among the various issues raised in Peter Obi's appeal, a prominent contention was the alleged double nomination of Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who was selected as Tinubu's running mate. Obi argued that Shettima's double nomination rendered him unqualified for the role.
In delivering the verdict, the Supreme Court ruled that the matter of double nomination had already been judiciously addressed in a prior judgment and therefore could not be reexamined. The court stated, "This matter ought not to have come here. When the matter was pending at the trial court, this court delivered judgment on it. This appeal lacks merit and is hereby dismissed."
Obi's appeal consisted of seven distinct issues challenging the decision of the presidential election petition tribunal. However, the head of the seven-member panel of judges, Inyang Okoro, clarified that six of these issues had already been addressed in a ruling concerning Atiku Abubakar's appeal. Notably, the court had previously dismissed Atiku Abubakar's appeal, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
"It is our decision that this appeal shall abide with the decision in that of Atiku," the court concluded. Consequently, the court upheld the decision of the tribunal, confirming Bola Tinubu's election as President.
This landmark ruling by the Supreme Court has further solidified the outcome of the presidential election and has significant implications for the nation's political landscape. It marks the culmination of a lengthy legal process and reaffirms Bola Tinubu as the legitimate President of the country.
