..rejects Atiku’s motion to file fresh evidence

Says Scoring 25% of votes in FCT not mandatory 

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25 presidential election.

The apex court in its ruling dismissed the appeals by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart Peter Obi.

Also, the Supreme Court has dismissed the application of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar to present fresh evidence to support his appeal at the court.

Atiku had sought the leave of the apex court to submit Tinubu’s credentials obtained from the Chicago State University to prove the president forged the documents he submitted to INEC.

The matters were, however, heard on Monday by a seven-man panel led by Justice John Okoro.

The argument for and against the admissibility of the fresh documents by Atiku dominated the proceedings.

Urging the court to admit the documents, the lead counsel for Atiku, Chris Uche, SAN described the allegation of forgery against the president as a grave constitutional matter that the apex court should look into.

But the counsel to Tinubu, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, urged the court not to admit the fresh documents, adding that INEC was not a party to it.

Reading the lead judgment on Thursday, Okoro said the application was filed after the 180 days prescribed by the law lapsed.

He said the court cannot activate section 22 of the Supreme Court Act to admit fresh evidence.

He said, ” The leave cannot be granted. We do not have the vires to grant it. There is no paragraph in the petition that indicates forgery. It would float on the appeal if it should be admitted.

“They (petitioners) were tardy and not diligent enough. This does not fit into the determination of this appeal. It is hereby refused and dismissed. “

The Supreme Court further agreed with the Court of Appeal that the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is like other states.

The presiding justice of the panel, John Okoro, asked, “Are you saying if someone scores 25% votes in 30 states but not in Abuja, he should not be president? Is that how you interpret the law?

“That is not the law. Supreme Court agrees with the Court of Appeal,” he added.