BFF-43 Nigeria Supreme Court upholds Buhari’s election victory

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Nigeria Supreme Court upholds Buhari’s election victory

ABUJA, Oct 30, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Nigeria’s Supreme Court on Wednesday
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 judgement.

“The appeal is dismissed,” he concluded, in an unanimous decision with six
court justices.

The chief justice did not give reasons for the judgement but announced
they would be released at a later date.

The judgement 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 percent 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 percent, 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.

BSS/AFP/BZC/2005HRS