‘LP, Obi can only prove voter suppression, over-voting in Rivers, Benue states’ – PEPT

Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) has ruled that petitioners; Peter Obi and Labour Party (LP) could not establish cases of over-voting in others states apart from Benue and Rivers, which they raised in their petition before the court.

Delivering judgment, Wednesday, in the petition filed by the Obi and Obi challenging the declaration of now President Bola Tinubu by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as winner of the February 25, 2023 election, the court while ruling on the case of over-voting, suppression of voters, alteration of election results, raised by the petitioners, said the petitioners ‘failed have failed to establish their allegations of over-voting and voter suppression.’

Though the court admitted the petitioners may have a case in those two states, however, described similar claims of such incidents outside the two states as ‘nebulous.’

“In Rivers and Benue states, during the collation, the petitioners alleged that INEC embarked on massive misrepresentations by uploading fictitious and incorrect votes and that if things had been done properly, they would have won the elections massively in those states.

“Apart from the figures stated in those 2 states, the other allegations were nebulous. Apart from stating material particulars, other crimes must be pleaded and clearly set out. The proof must be beyond reasonable doubt.

“The petitioner must produce two sets of results, one genuine, and one false,” the court ruled.

On the issues corruption raised by Obi which he said were recorded in the elections, lead Judge, Justice Tsammani said some paragraphs relating to these claims have been struck out earlier due to their vague and generic nature.