Seven PDP states withdraw suit against Tinubu’s election victory

The seven states led by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that had filed a suit against the Federal Government at the Supreme Court challenging the victory of Bola Tinubu in the presidential election have withdrawn the suit. The suit was filed by the Attorneys-General of the seven states, namely Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Taraba and Sokoto, who claimed that Tinubu’s declaration did not follow the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and the Independent National Electoral Commission’s guidelines.

The suit challenged the failure of INEC to upload the election results to the IReV through the BVAS, and the plaintiffs expressed fear of a potential breakdown of public order and civil disobedience. The Notice of Discontinuance was signed by their lawyer, Mr. Mike Ozekhome, on Friday, and it stated that the plaintiffs were discontinuing the suit against the defendant.

Earlier, the states had dragged the Federal Government before the Supreme Court over the conduct of the presidential and National Assembly elections held on February 25, 2023. The plaintiffs alleged that the collation of the national election results had not been carried out in compliance with the mandatory provisions of relevant sections of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC Regulations and Guidelines.

They argued that non-compliance with the due process of law had led to a widespread agitation, violent protests, and disapproval from a wide spectrum of the Nigerian populace, including international observers, political parties, and former Heads of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The plaintiffs sought a declaration that the entire results of the presidential election were invalid, null and void, and of no effect whatsoever.

However, on Friday, the plaintiffs asked the court to discontinue the suit, stating that the withdrawal became necessary since the election had already been concluded, and the suit was filed while collation was still ongoing. The plaintiffs noted that the elections tribunal is the next step.