Tribunal Strikes Out HDP’s Petition Against Buhari’s Election

Pat Stevens/

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal today, struck out the petition filed by the Hope Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Ambrose Owuru, to challenge the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 23 general elections.

In an unanimous judgment, the five-man tribunal led by Justice Mohammed Garba, struck out the HDP’s petition on the grounds that it was premised on a purported referendum which allegedly held on February 16, 2019.

Upholding the separate objections of the respondents – the Independent National Electoral Commission, Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, the tribunal said it lacked jurisdiction to entertain the petition which did not challenge the February 23, 2019 election, but a purported referendum not conducted by INEC.