Nigeria: Atiku Appears in Court in Final Legal Argument Against Tinubu

Tuesday's hearing is for adoption of final written addresses by parties in the petition filed by Atiku against Tinubu.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has arrived at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja for Tuesday's hearing of his suit challenging President Bola Tinubu's victory.

Atiku, accompanied by PDP's acting National Chairman, Umar Damagun, and other party stalwarts, arrived at the courtroom at about 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

Tuesday's hearing is for the adoption of final written addresses by parties in the petition.

The proceedings will end the three-month legal fireworks by Atiku, Mr Tinubu and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Nigeria's electoral commission, INEC.

The next hearing after the adoption of addresses will be for judgement.

Atiku, through his petition, urged the five-member panel chaired by Haruna Tsammani to overturn Mr Tinubu's victory on account of alleged electoral malpractices during the 25 February presidential election.

He also accused Mr Tinubu of falsifying his academic records from the Chicago State University and forfeiture of $4,600 in alleged drug trafficking in the US.

However, Mr Tinubu, in his defence, argued that he was never convicted of any crime in the US.

The president tendered a letter from the US embassy in Nigeria clearing him of any indictment or conviction in the US.

He also presented his academic records from the Chicago State University to aid his case.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.