Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25 presidential poll, has once again urged the Supreme Court to set aside technicalities and grant his application for leave to present fresh and additional evidence. Atiku seeks to support his claim that President Bola Tinubu submitted forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Atiku argues that the submission of forged documents by a presidential candidate is a grave constitutional issue that should not be overlooked. In his reply on a point of law to Tinubu’s objection to granting leave for presenting fresh evidence, Atiku emphasizes that the issue of merit should not be determined at the interlocutory stage.
President Tinubu objected on the grounds of jurisdiction and argued that the qualification issue is a pre-election matter. Atiku contends that denying the grant of the application based on technicalities would be undue.
In a 20-paragraph affidavit supporting the application, Atiku asserts that granting the application would eliminate the need for further argument, demonstrating that Tinubu violated Section 137(1)(j) of the Constitution by presenting a disclaimed certificate. Atiku also dismisses claims of inconsistency in his names as immaterial, emphasizing that there is no petition challenging his qualification.
The legal proceedings highlight the ongoing dispute over the alleged submission of forged documents, with Atiku seeking the Supreme Court’s intervention to present additional evidence in support of his claim.
