ABUJA, Oct 30 — Nigeria’s Supreme Court today dismissed the appeal of opposition presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, effectively upholding the election victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in February’s polls.
“We have examined all the briefs and the exhibits for over two weeks and we agree that there is no merit in this appeal,” Chief Justice, Tanko Muhammad said at the judgment.
“The appeal is dismissed,” he concluded, in an unanimous decision with six court justices.
The chief justice did not give reasons for the judgment but announced they would be released at a later date.
The judgment brings an end to an eight-month bitter legal battle since the presidential election in February when Buhari, 76, won a second term with 56 per cent of the vote.
The delayed vote was marked by low turnout and saw violence across the country, with accusations of vote-rigging by both sides.
Abubakar, the 72-year-old former vice president of the main opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), came in second with 41 per cent, and immediately branded the result a “sham”.
Opposition parties lodged a legal challenge against the result, which was rejected by an election tribunal in September.
The PDP described the ruling as “provocative, barefaced subversion of justice,” launching an appeal in Nigeria’s Supreme Court.
Abubakar said he had been cheated of the chance to lead Africa’s most populous nation after a conspiracy between the electoral commission INEC and Buhari’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
EU and local observers spoke of “serious problems” in the February polls, which was hit by violence including 53 deaths.
Some reported vote-buying, intimidation and violence towards voters and officials, which have been a problem in previous elections in Nigeria. — AFP
