Court faults LP’s claim to majority votes, rejects APC’s contention against Obi membership

The Presidential Election Petitions Court has held that the Labour Pary and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, failed to specify how they scored the majority of lawful votes in the February 25 presidential election.

In the lead judgment, Justice Abba Bello Mohammed, said the political party made generic allegations of irregularities, suppression of votes and corrupt practices to rob them of their votes, especially in Rivers, Benue, Lagos, Taraba, Imo and Osun states but failed to specify the polling units affected.

Justice Mohammed further held that LP also failed to prove the allegations of over voting against the All Progressives Congress and their actual reduced votes.

He said the petitioners made allegations of irregularities and said they would rely on spreadsheets, inspection reports and forensic analysis filed with the petition during trial.

Mohammed, however said the documents promised by the petitioners were not attached to the petition and served on the respondents.

The court also faulted respondents’ contention challenging Obi’s membership of the Labour Party.

Mohammed said only a political party can determine who its members are, and that no other person or entity can probe into it.

The court also faults the respondents’ objection which faulted the Labour Party’s petition on the grounds that it failed to join Atiku Abubakar who came second in the election.

Mohammed said a petitioner was only obligated to join the person and the political party who won the election and the commission who conducted the election as parties to his petition.

Details later…