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Seven state governments under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have withdrawn their suit filed before the supreme court against the federal government challenging the results of the just concluded presidential and national assembly elections.
The states include Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Taraba and Sokoto.
The states, on Friday, March 3, discontinued the suit which had their attorneys-general as plaintiffs and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) as the sole defendant.
The states, in the originating summons marked, SC/CV/354/2023, sought an order of the apex court directing a wholistic review of all results so far announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
They alleged that the collation and announcement of the results were carried out other than through the manner prescribed by the provisions of the electoral act, 2022, the INEC regulations and guidelines for the conduct of elections, 2022, and the INEC manual for election officials.
The suit was pursuant to sections 6 (6) (a), 14 (2) (b), 153 (1) (F) and 232 (1) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), sections 25 (1), (2) and 60 and 66 of the electoral act, 2022.
They also asked the court to intervene in the recently concluded general elections after claiming that the declaration of Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), as the winner by INEC was contrary to the provision of the electoral act and INEC’s guidelines which centred on uploading of results to the IReV through the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS).
They claimed that non-compliance with the due process of law led to widespread agitation, violent protests, displeasure, and disapproval from a wide spectrum of the Nigerian populace, including international observers, political parties, well-meaning Nigerians.
The plaintiffs also argued that “whilst queries were being raised as to the failure or deliberate refusal of INEC to transmit the results electronically, INEC suddenly pulled down its portal harbouring the regulations and guidelines, thus leaving the plaintiffs in the dark.”
They also filed another application seeking an order for abridging time for parties to file and serve responses for and against the suit.
However, counsel to the states, Mike Ozekhome, who filed the notice of discontinuance on Friday, said that having been overtaken by events, the suit would become a tribunal matter.
Ozekhome said that, “The supreme court suit between the seven states and AGF, which was filed during the flawed manual collation of results, contrary to the clear provisions of the electoral act, the INEC guidelines and regulations and the manual for INEC officials, has been discontinued due to the fact that the flawed results have already been announced.
“Moreover, a president-elect has been declared, albeit illegally and unconstitutionally.
“Having been overtaken by events, it will now be a tribunal matter,” he added.
Source: TheStreetJournal | Read More from Thestreetjournal.org
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