Political News in Nigeria Today
Atiku tells tribunal: INEC fighting proxy war for Tinubu on drug, dual citizenship allegations
Atiku Abubakar, the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate in the most recent election, has charged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is waging a proxy war on behalf of President-elect Bola Tinubu over accusations of using drugs and holding dual citizenship.
Atiku argued before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that by doing this, the electoral body had given up on being an impartial arbiter.
Leading attorney for Atiku, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, who was replying to the requests by INEC to dismiss his appeal against the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election on February 25 and to strike out some specific petition paragraphs.
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INEC had through its counsel at Friday’s proceedings, Mr Kemi Pinhero, SAN, moved a motion on notice praying the Court to strike out some of the allegations Atiku made against Tinubu in his petition.
The Commission specifically urged to strike out 32 allegations made against Tinubu by Atiku which among others, comprised forfeiture of $460, 000 in the United States, possession of Guinea’s Passport and Allegiance to foreign countries.
Atiku had in the petition challenged the declaration of Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress APC as the joint winner of the February 25 presidential election.
INEC said that the allegations which formed 32 paragraphs in the Atiku’s petition should be discountenanced by the court for various reasons comprising lack of jurisdiction.
But Atiku in a counter affidavit asked the court to dismiss the application on the grounds that INEC has no duty to defend Tinubu but to remain neutral and defend only allegations bordering on the conduct of the disputed election.
He argued that the electoral body has somersaulted by turning itself into a busybody and meddlesome interloper by taking up the defence of Tinubu against the provisions of the law.
The Senior lawyer maintained that the request of INEC in its defence of Tinubu is not only spurious, and strange but constituted a gross abuse of the court process in addition to lacking in merit.
Uche argued that all efforts by INEC to get fundamental averments against Tinubu should be treated as efforts in futility, vexatious and irritating and should not be allowed to hold.
“INEC ought not to be here to fight the battle of Tinubu, INEC ought to be neutral and at best, defend only the election it conducted and which is the subject of Alhaji Abubakar Atiku’s petition.
‘This application by INEC in support of Tinubu lacks merit. It is grossly incompetent and should be outrightly rejected and thrown to the dustbin.”
The senior lawyer asked the Court to dismiss INEC’s motion for being a gross abuse of court process, lacking in merit and grossly incompetent.
