Peter Obi failed to identify polling units with irregularities — Tribunal declares

The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) on Wednesday, September 6, ruled that the Labour Party’s petition of irregularities in the 2023 presidential election was generic.

Justice Abba Mohammed, who read the judgement said Peter Obi failed to identify some polling units that recorded irregularities during the February presidential election.

He said Obi made a generic accusation of election malpractice, adding that the petitioners failed to prove that their votes were suppressed by failing to specify the number of votes suppressed.

The judge ruled that although Obi and LP claimed to have scored the majority of lawful votes cast, they failed to state the number of lawful votes they scored.

“The petitioners failed to state the number of votes affected and the number of people disenfranchised. They also failed to prove that their votes were suppressed by failing to specify the number of votes suppressed. The determination of the election is about figures,” the judge said.

LP had alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reduced their scores and added it to All Progressives Congress (APC)’s votes.

But the court said LP failed to supply particulars of what they actually scored before the said reductions, neither did they supply the polling units where it happened.