The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Monday, asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the request by the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, to present President Bola Tinubu’s Chicago State University academic records.
CSU had denied issuing certificate result to Bola Tinubu, and the certificate presented to INEC to contest for the 2023 general election did not emulate from them, this means that it was forged.
Recall that the independent body INEC had declared Tinubu of the All-Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the 2023 presidential election without following its guide line.
Also, the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), had affirmed Tinubu’s victory despite irregularities during the election, the argument of not wining 25% required in the FCT and alleged drug trafficking, other crimes in the United States of America.
However, Atiku and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Peter Obi, as well as the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) are all challenging Tinubu’s victory in separate petitions at the Supreme Court.
The PDP flag bearer and his lead counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, described the matter as a grave and constitutional matter while appealing to the court to adopt the application and grant their request.
Presenting his argument, he said, “The issue involving Mr Tinubu’s certificate is a weighty, grave, and constitutional one, which the Supreme Court should admit. I urge the court to admit the fresh evidence of President Tinubu’s academic records from CSU presented by Atiku.”
However, the INEC lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud, urged the Supreme Court to dismiss Atiku’s application seeking to present Tinubu’s academic records.
Also, Tinubu’s lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, argued that INEC should have been a party at the deposition proceedings in the US, noting that the CSU depositions are dormant until the deponent comes to court and testify.
He told the court that Atiku cannot seek fresh evidence at the Supreme Court.
