Buhari Urges Tribunal To Declare Him President

Although hearing of the substantive suit is yet to begin, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) yesterday asked the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to enter judgment in its favour in the petition filed against the victory of President Goodluck Jonathan in the April 16 presidential poll. 

Jonathan contested on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while Major Gen Muhammadu Buhari (RTD) was the candidate of the CPC.

The CPC which is asking the tribunal to cancel the results of the election in 20 states want the tribunal to hold that Jonathan and his running mate, Namadi Sambo were not duly elected by majority of lawful votes.


The opposition party is alleging substantial non-compliance with the Electoral Act and irregularities in Lagos, Bayelsa, Kaduna, Sokoto, Nasarawa, Kwara, Adamawa, Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Enugu and Cross River.

Others are Rivers, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo Anambra, Benue, Plateau states and the FCT.

In a motion on notice filed yesterday, the party accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of colluding with Jonathan to frustrate its efforts at regaining the allegedly stolen mandate.

The party said all efforts made to assess the sensitive materials which the tribunal had ordered the commission to allow it access to met a brick wall.

The INEC, having violated the order of the tribunal, CPC wants the panel chaired by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami to enter judgment in its favour.

The motion was brought pursuant to paragraphs 18(11) of the first schedule of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, Section 149 (d) of the Evidence Act and under the inherent powers of the tribunal.

The petitioner is seeking the following reliefs:

•An order of this Honourable Court entering Judgment in favor of the Petitioner in Petition No. CA/A/EPT/PRES/1/2011 under Paragraph 18(11) of the 1st Schedule to the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended and Section 149 of the Evidence Act on the ground that the order for inspection granted by this Honourable Court on the 24th day of May, 2011 is refusal or failure or neglect of the Respondent s to comply with the terms contained in the said order,

• And for such further or other orders as this Honourable Tribunal may deem fit to make in the circumstances.

The application is predicated on the following grounds:

•That the Petitioner was one of the registered political parties that contested the Presidential Election held on the 16th day of April, 2011 and had in consequence thereof demanded for election materials from the 1st Respondent vide series of letters written to that effect before, during and at the conclusion of the election.

•That 1st (INEC) and 2nd (Prof. Attahiru Jega) Respondents denied the Petitioner’s request by failing to make copies of the requested election materials available to the Applicant and the Applicant was as a result forced to file an application dated the 15th May, 2011 for an order directing the 1st and 2nd Respondents to produce for the inspection of the Applicants and permitting it to take copies of the election material used in the conduct of the election.
This prick is definitely insane.