Buhari, INEC Win Another Major Victory At Presidential Tribunal

Tribunal Dismisses HDP’s Case

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Thursday, dismissed the petition by the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and its candidate, Ambrose Owuru.

Naija News reports HDP and Owuru were challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress in the February 23 presidential election.

A five-man penal of the Tribunal on Thursday, upheld the preliminary objection filed by Buhari (first respondent) against the competence of the petition.

The court ruled that not only did it lack jurisdiction to hear the petition, but the prayers in the petition are also similar to what the petitioners sought in their pending cases before the Federal High Court on the same issues.

Justice Mohammed Garba, who read the lead judgment, held that the petition constitutes an abuse of court process and proceeded to dismiss it.

Other members of the panel agreed with the position.

Naija News recalls HDP and Owuru, petitioners in the case, had sought to be pronounced the winners of the election based on a referendum which they claimed they won after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the conduct of the presidential election.