The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal has dismissed
the suit filed by the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and its Presidential
Candidate, Ambrose Aworu, seeking to stop President Muhammadu Buhari’s
inauguration.
In a lead judgment delivered by Justice Joseph Ikyechi, the
tribunal dismissed the application for lacking merit. Respondents in the suit
which include the President, his party the All Progressives Congress (APC) and
the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) faulted the application
and asked the tribunal to dismiss it for lacking merit.
The HDP in its application said it will be unfair and unjust
to inaugurate President Buhari for a second term on the ground that the
validity of the election that produced him has been challenged at the
tribunal.
The party also prayed for an order stopping the Chief
Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Tanko Mohammad from inaugurating or
administering the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance on him (Buhari) until
all court actions against him are determined. The two petitioners said they are
challenging the validity of President Buhari’s election on the ground of non-
compliance with the electoral laws and have dully served the President, INEC
and the APC despite notice of hearing of their petition against his
election.
They noted that the President has been making frantic
efforts and preparations to be sworn in and inaugurated on May 29 by inviting
the CJN and the general public. They, therefore, insisted that restraining
order by the tribunal is appropriate to preserve the subject matter of their petition
and rendering their petition nugatory.
