Mark your calendars, as a significant date has been set in the ongoing legal battle. The Supreme Court has officially scheduled Monday, October 23, for the hearing of the appeal filed by the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar. Atiku is striving to challenge the legitimacy of President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the presidential election.
On that same day, the Supreme Court will also entertain a motion presented by Atiku, which aims to introduce fresh evidence indicating that President Tinubu allegedly submitted a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to a hearing notice uncovered on Thursday, the apex court has allocated the time of 9 am for Atiku’s legal team, as well as President Tinubu’s legal representatives, to present their arguments to a panel of seven Justices. The primary question they will address is whether the Supreme Court possesses the authority to grant Atiku’s request.
Furthermore, lawyers representing the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who are jointly named respondents in this motion, will also be given the opportunity to present their arguments. Their task will be to articulate and reference applicable laws, determining if such a request aligns with the nation’s Constitution and the Electoral Act of 2022.
The pivotal documents Atiku aims to present as evidence are the academic records of Tinubu, furnished by Chicago State University on Monday, October 2. These 32 pages of documents were released following the orders of Judge Nancy Maldonado of the District Court of Illinois, Eastern Division, United States of America.
This legal showdown is sure to attract keen attention as the nation watches closely to see how this unfolds.
