The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has responded to the announcement by the Supreme Court of Nigeria that it has scheduled Monday, October 23, 2023, as the date to hear the petition filed by its 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Atiku is challenging the outcome of the presidential election in the country.
This development comes after the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) upheld the victory of President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, in the February 25 election. Atiku and the PDP disagreed with the PEPC’s verdict and subsequently approached the apex court seeking redress.
In a brief statement posted on the PDP’s official account on the X platform, the party expressed its expectations for the forthcoming hearing, stating:
“The Supreme Court of Nigeria has announced Monday, October 23, 2023, as the date to hear the appeal filed by our great Party, the @OfficialPDPNig and our Presidential Candidate, @atiku in the February Election, against the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC). We strongly believe that the court will do justice to the appeal before them.”
Atiku had filed a notice of plea before the apex court, alleging that President Tinubu submitted a forged document to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest the February 25 presidential election.
Atiku predicated his plea on the grounds that presenting forged documents by any candidate, especially by a candidate for the highest office in the land, is a very grave constitutional issue that must not be encouraged and is therefore seeking Tinubu’s disqualification.