On the 20th of August, the apex court struck out an appeal filed by Nigeria’s opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate Atiku Abubakar challenging the Presidential Election Tribunal’s dismissal of their request to access the INEC “central server”.

PDP and its presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar, had alleged that the “server” housed the results of the poll electronically transmitted by the Independent National Electoral Commission during the exercise.

Meanwhile, INEC denies that the result was transmitted via any other means except through manual collation through the designated centres by the accredited electoral officers.

The Point You May Have Missed

To clear any misconceptions that may arise from the proceedings, the former spokesman of Atiku campaign organisation, Mr. Segun Sowunmi said that the apex court did not nullify the petition totally but dismissed it hoping that the server issues will be considered within-trial and if not yet properly considered, the PDP will still have ample time to bring it before the supreme court.

Mr Sowunmi made the clarification while featuring as a guest on the Arise TV Morning Show on Monday.

He said: “At the beginning of trial, our counsels sought to access materials from INEC, and it was not coming forth on time, therefore, they went to court and they went straight to supreme court, but because the tribunal has eventually commenced its work and was about finishing, it was no longer necessary for the supreme court to weigh in on that issue.

“The supreme court simply rested and dismissed that matter believing that within trial, those issues, will either be considered, and if they have not been properly considered, the PDP, its candidate and his counsels, will have more than enough opportunities to bring the matter to the Supreme Court and then it can weigh in properly."

What The PDP Is Seeking From the Tribunal

He also outlined the five focal points that PDP and Atiku Abubakar wants in a court as follows:

Whether the second respondent, in this case, Muhammed Buhari, was at the time of elections, considered qualified to contest in the elections as president of the federal republic of Nigeria.

Whether Muhammed Buhari submitted to the INEC, affidavit containing false information of a fundamental nature, in terms of his qualifications
Whether from the previews and evidence, it was established that the respondent, Muhammed Buhari, was elected by lawful votes cast on the election day(s).

Whether any of the votes cast on that day was invalid by reason of corrupt practices.

Whether the presidential elections conducted by INEC was invalid by reason of non-compliance to the electoral act 2010 as amended and 2019.

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