HDP Asks Tribunal to Nullify Buhari’s Election

Says Feb 23 presidential poll unconstitutional

Hope Democratic Party (HDP) has told the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) to nullify the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office, insisting that the February 23 presidential election, which produced the president was unlawful, illegal and unconstitutional.

HDP, which was among the parties that participated in the election conducted by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), argued that the February 23 poll is unknown to law and should be invalidated by the tribunal.

In a fresh motion filed by the party and its presidential candidate, Chief Ambrose Owuru, it was argued that the postponement of the election from February 16 to 23 had no backing of any law as no cogent and verifiable reason required by law was advanced for the postponement.

In the fresh motion filed by the party’s counsel, Ezechukwu Ifeanyi, the HDP insisted that the February 23 poll was never validly held by INEC and cannot produce any valid result or returns recognisable by law.

Although the party admitted that the electoral body has powers under section 26 of the Electoral Act 2010, it however maintained that no cogent and verifiable reason were produced by INEC to postpone the February 16 election and thereby rendered the February 23 election a nullity under the same law.

HDP, which cited several authorities to buttress its averment, said that since INEC breached the provisions of the Electoral Act, especially section 26 to conduct the February 23 poll, the purported election cannot stand in the eyes of the law.

The party therefore, prayed for an order compelling INEC to produce at the tribunal notice of election, original time-table for February 16, the press statement of February 16, as well as minutes of meeting where the decision to postpone the February 16, presidential was held.

HDP also prayed that the return of President Buhari for a second term in office on account of February 23 election be invalidated and set aside because the election has no force of law.

HDP and its presidential candidate had earlier filed a petition marked: CA/ PETP/001/2019 asking the tribunal to nullify the election that brought Buhari to office.

The main grouse of the petitioners was that they were validly nominated for the 2019 general election but were unlawfully excluded from the said elections by INEC by delisting their names and party logo from the ballot papers.

Another grouse of the petitioners was that the electoral body placed a false version of their registered party logo on the ballot papers for elections and thereby cost them the chances of realising their political ambition in the 2019 general election.

Meanwhile, the tribunal will resume pre-hearing season in the HDP petition against the election of President Buhari on Thursday.