Tribunal Dismisses Atiku's Ground Challenging Buhari’s Academic Qualification to Run for President

The Presidential Election Tribunal has dismissed the petitioner's ground wherein in the petitioners’ ground E, it was alleged that Buhari gave false information of fundamental nature in the affidavit submitted to INEC to aid his qualification to contest the election. The tribunal now considering the INEC’s claim that the petitioners’ Ground E is a pre-election issue and thus incompetent, struck out the ground.

The Tribunal did not think it was worthwhile to dissipate so much energy in resolving the issue of President Buhari's qualification as the issue of the qualification of the candidate is a ground upon which a petition can be presented, said, but the Tribunal however added,

in fact, it is a distinct ground under the Electoral Act 2006, under section 145 (1) (E)

It goes without saying therefore that if the appellant wanted to use the grounds of qualification of the second petitioner for whatever reason whatsoever, it had to file a cross petition and not to use the alleged non qualification as a defence in this petition. It is hereby struck out.

More photos below of some politicians who left their jurisdictions to come hear the judgment.

Photo Credit: Channels TV, LIB

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Tribunal says the issue of certificate is a disinct fact but the petitioner should have filed a cross petitioner.

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