Barely five days to the expiration of the 180 days lifespan180 days provided by law for the determination of electoral matters, the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has fixed today for delivery of its judgment in the petition filed by candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Februaray 23rd presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, against President Muhammadu Buhari.
Section 134 (2) and (3) of the Electoral Act, 2010, provides for a time limit for election petitions to be concluded, and the duration of the petition will lapse on Saturday, September
Meanwhile, shortly after all lawyers in the petition had adopted and argued their final written addresses at the last hearing, the Justice Mohammed Garba- led five-man panel went ahead to reserve judgment in the petition, promising to communicate to parties involved in the suit.
Blueprint gathered on Tuesday from one of the parties that the tribunal has fixed Wednesday for judgment.
Confirming the development, a counsel in the matter, who did not want his name mentioned, said the tribunal has communicated the date for judgment to parties.
The petitioners held that with the plethora of evidence tendered and witnesses called they have been able to show to the tribunal that Buhari’s election was invalid.
They added that analysis of results from 11 states showed how INEC in connivance with Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) wrongly and unlawfully credited Buhari with votes not valid or lawful.
They further adduced rigging and non- compliance with the Electoral Act while the exercise lasted.
According to Atiku and PDP, documents tendered before the tribunal showed huge discrepancies between collated results as contained in the tendered Certified True Copies of forms EC8A and polling units.
They further alleged that a total of 2, 906,384 votes were cancelled across the country, while 2, 698,773 Nigerians were disenfranchised.
They said the two figures when added exceeded the 3, 928,869 differential between the votes as stated in INEC form EC8E.
