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  • Five Popular Election Tribunal Judgements in Nigeria

    The 2023 presidential election has ended, with INEC declaring Tinubu as the winner. But will the Labour Party take this loss sitting down, or will they go to court? As we await further updates, here are some of Nigeria鈥檚 biggest post-election court cases to reminisce on.

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    On March 1, 2023, Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).听

    The BAT

    How are Nigerians taking this?

    As fans of the president-elect are , many Nigerians on the side of Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi are not taking the defeat too well. Neither are the PDP supporters of Atiku Abubakar.

    Some have even said there is enough evidence for the Labour Party to take to court, given .听

    Even before the declaration, the Labour Party, together with the People鈥檚 Democratic Party (PDP), had already .听

    And this is perfectly normal. Here in Nigeria, there is no such thing as an election without .听

    As we await the post-election court drama that is sure to follow, take a look at some of the five biggest election cases in Nigeria鈥檚 history:

    Rotimi Amaechi Vs INEC

    In October 2007, the Supreme Court of Nigeria and ordered that Rotimi Amaechi be sworn in instead.听

    This was due to Rotimi鈥檚 unjust removal from the ballot paper by INEC after he had won the PDP primaries in December 2006. 

    According to INEC, he was removed due to an indictment or accusation of corruption by the federal government. The Supreme Court later deemed it as invalid. 

    Amaechi became governor without campaigning.

    The many court cases of Peter Obi

    Even the Labour Party鈥檚 presidential candidate has had his share of 鈥榳ork experience鈥 regarding post-election court cases. 

    In 2003, Obi under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) but to Chris Ngige.听

    Obi didn鈥檛 take his L peacefully as he defended his right to Anambra鈥檚 highest seat in the election petition tribunal. 

    He later in March 2006 after almost three years.听

    He was in November of the same year, but the court overturned his impeachment, and he returned to office in February 2007.

    Obi was again removed after the , but the judiciary intervened by ruling that he should be allowed to complete a full four-year term.听

    In 2010, Obi was

    Mimiko Vs Agagu

    The 2023 elections would not be the first to have accusations of electoral fraud. This happened in the between Olusegun Agagu and Olusegun Mimiko.

    In April 2007, Agagu was declared the winner of the Ondo State elections by INEC. Mimiko then submitted a petition to the Ondo State State tribunal in what would be a year-long case. 

    Mimiko later after it was revealed that Agagu won the election through invalid votes.听

    Adams Oshiomhole vs Oseirheimen Osunbor

    The Ondo State governorship elections weren鈥檛 the only election being contested in April 2007. The Edo State governorship election also entered the state鈥檚 election tribunal. 

    This was between Adams Oshiomhole (defendant) and Oserheimen Osunbor (winner).

    The case was on May 14, 2007, and was by Oshiomhole in March 2008. The election won by Osunbor was annulled, as the votes in his favour were found to be fraudulent and ill-obtained.听

    Buhari Vs Obasanjo 

    Unlike the other four, this court case did not end in victory for the defendant. 

    When Muhammadu Buhari challenged the victory of Olusegun Obasanjo as the winner of the 2003 presidential elections, the petition sadly got by the Supreme Court.听

    Buhari complained of massive rigging, election irregularities and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) mismanagement of votes. 

    What happens next?

    As we await further post-election news, what would be the outcome? 

    Will the Labour Party take a step back and admit defeat? Will they go to the Supreme Court and challenge Tinubu鈥檚 incoming presidency? 

    Citizen promises to give you the updates once we have them.听

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