Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Delivers Judgement On Suit Trying To Stop Buhari’s Inauguration

Tribunal Rules On Suit Against Buhari’s Inauguration

The suit filed by the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and its Presidential Candidate, Mr. Ambrose Aworu, seeking to stop President Muhammadu Buhari’s inauguration has been dismissed by the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.

Justice Joseph Ikyechi who delivered the lead judgment by the tribunal, said the application was struck out for lack of merit.

President Muhammadu Buhari, his party the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who are respondents in the suit, had faulted the application and urged the tribunal to dismiss it for lacking merit, Channels TV reports.

Naija News recalls the HDP had approached the tribunal seeking to stop Buhari’s second term inauguration on the grounds that his election victory has been challenged at the tribunal.

The party also included in its application, an order to stop the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Tanko Mohammad from inaugurating or administering the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance on Buhari until all pending matters before the court are determined.

In a related development, recall that as previously reported by this online medium, the President of the Court of Appeal, and Chairman of the five-member panel of the Presidential Election Tribunal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, has recused herself from the tribunal.

Naija News reports that Justice Bulkachuwa recused herself from the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday, May 22.

On seeing Justice Bulkachuwa as the chairman of the five-man panel of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Atiku Abubakar and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) raised the alarm over her “connection” with the ruling APC.