Nigeria’s Opposition Challenges Ruling Party’s Presidential Election Victory in Court

A Nigerian court in Abuja began hearing the opening statements on Monday on separate suits filed by the opposition parties to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress party’s victory in the country’s presidential election earlier this year. The challenge is against the victory of incumbent President Bola Tinubu, who was declared the winner of the election in a televised broadcast by Nigeria’s election commission after garnering 37% of the votes.

However, the two main opposition candidates rejected the result, accusing Tinubu of not being qualified and alleging that the results from the country’s 177,000 polling stations were tampered with.

Key Highlights:

• Nigeria’s opposition parties have filed separate suits to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress party’s victory in the country’s presidential election.
• The suits are challenging the victory of incumbent President Bola Tinubu, who was declared the winner of the election by Nigeria’s election commission after securing 37% of the votes.
• The opposition candidates rejected the result, questioning Tinubu’s qualification and alleging that the results from the country’s 177,000 polling stations were tampered with.

Armed security personnel blocked major access roads and prevented some journalists and lawyers from entering the tribunal, as some protesters waved Nigerian flags and displayed placards alleging that the electoral process was flawed.

One of the protesters, James Mike, accused Nigeria’s political class of pilfering the country’s wealth from huge mineral and crude oil resources. The opposition parties are now hoping that the court will overturn Tinubu’s victory and declare a new presidential election.