The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in Nigeria’s February 25 election, Peter Obi, was absent in court on Wednesday as the Election Petitions Tribunal began hearing his case challenging the victory of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress.
Obi was represented by the party’s chairman, Julius Abure, who told the court that the former governor of Anambra state was out of the country on “official assignment.”
The tribunal is being chaired by Justice Haruna Tsammani and has four other members: Justices Stephen Adah, Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf, Moses Ugo, and Abba Mohammed.
The petition, which was filed on March 8, alleges that there were widespread irregularities and malpractices in the election, including the use of fake voters’ cards, ballot box stuffing, and intimidation of voters.
Obi is seeking a declaration that he was the rightful winner of the election and an order for Tinubu’s victory to be nullified.
Obi’s absence in court on Wednesday is a setback for his case. It will be difficult for him to win the case if he is not present to present his evidence and cross-examine witnesses.
However, Abure is a seasoned lawyer and he is likely to do a good job of representing Obi in court.
The outcome of the case is uncertain. It is possible that the tribunal will uphold Tinubu’s victory, or it could invalidate the election and order a new one to be held.
The case is being closely watched by Nigerians, who are eager to see whether the courts will be able to uphold the rule of law and ensure that the will of the people is respected.
