INEC Appoints Mahmud, Adehi, 3 Other SANs Into Legal Team Against Atiku, Obi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has appointed five Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) to defend the 2023 Presidential election. Naija News learnt that the legal team of the electoral body will be led by Abubakar Balarabe Mahmud (SAN). INEC’s legal team of SANS includes Stephen Adehi, Pinheiro Oluwakemi Adekunle, Miannaya Essien and Abdullahi Aliyu.

Other legal experts are Garba Hassan, Esq, Patricia Obi Esq and Musa Attah Esq.

Recall that INEC on the 1st of March 2023 declared the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu as the winner of the 25 February 2023 presidential election. Tinubu had polled a total of 8,794,726 votes and also scored over 25 per cent of the votes cast in 30 states, more than the 24 states constitutionally required. The Chairman of the electoral body, Mahmood Yakubu who announced the final results in Abuja stated that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar came second in the election.

The former vice president polled a total of 6,984,520 votes in the presidential election. The candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi came third in the election with a total of 6,101,533 votes while Rabiu Kwankwaso of the NNPP came fourth with 1,496,687 votes. However, Atiku and Obi have challenged the declaration of INEC claiming that they defeated Tinunu in the presidential election.

The development saw the presidential candidates file petitions to the Presidential election tribunal challenging the declaration of Tinubu. Obi in his petition claimed that Tinubu “was not duly elected by the majority of the lawful votes cast at the time of the election.” The former Governor of Anambra State further stated there was rigging in 11 states, adding that he would demonstrate this in the declaration of results based on the uploaded results.

 

Source: Naija News

 

 

Obi won presidential poll- Ohanaeze

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has saluted the courage of the Pan Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere on speaking truth to power on national issues. It said that the position of the Yoruba group on the just held presidential election was a pointer to the world that the exercise was compromised to favour a particular candidate as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Like Afenifere, Ohanaeze stated that the election was won by Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party which candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, was declared winner by the INEC.

Reacting to the Communiqué issued by the Afenifere, on March 28, 2023, after its monthly meeting held at the residence of its leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo at Isanya-Ogbo, Ogun State, Ohanaeze said the group once again displayed its courage, tenacity, dedication, robustness and unwavering commitment to the ideals of pan-Nigerianism and the continued existence of Nigeria without caring whose ox was gored.

Applauding the resolutions of the Afenifere meeting, Ohanaeze spokesman, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, in a statement on Wednesday said: “We are persuaded that the Afenifere’s resolutions as published are fundamental and foundational to the current socio-political crisis gnawing at the heart of Nigeria; and that those resolutions speak truth to the conscience of the powers that be in Nigeria. Ohanaeze supports those resolutions in all ramifications and join in calling on the President and Government of Nigeria to, as a matter of urgency, restore public confidence and hope in the Nigerian project.

“Afenifere’s unflinching stand on the side of equity and justice has not come to us as a surprise given that the organization has, at various times, stood for truth each time Nigeria finds herself at the cross-roads.

“We are not unmindful of Afenifere’s role in restoring democracy to Nigeria through the platform of the National Democratic Coalition(NADECO). The Afenifere leaders, with alliances across the national divide and the international bodies launched the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), which eventually gave birth to the Committee for Unity and Understanding (CUU), among others.

“We thank the Afenifere for telling the world the true position on the February 25 Presidential election, which from available records was won by Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party. “Furthermore, we commend the Afenifere for its reassurances of security and support to stranger communities in Yorubaland, particularly Lagos State and for reassuring our people that there is no war between the Yoruba and any other group in Nigeria, especially the Igbo.”

 

Source: The Sun