Elizabeth O.
Tinubu replies Obi by stating reasons why he defeated him in presidential poll (READ TEXT)
Tinubu, in a preliminary objection he filed alongside his Vice-President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, maintained that Obi didn’t do well by filing a petition to challenge his election victory.
He argued that Obi was not validly nominated to contest the presidential election in line with the mandatory provisions of sections 77(2) and (3) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
He insisted that Obi’s name was not found on the register of members of the LP, noting that he defected to the party from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, less than 30 days before the primary election that produced him as a presidential candidate, was conducted.
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Stating reasons why he won the presidential election, Tinubu, in the preliminary objection he filed through his team of lawyers led by Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, said it was his consistency and track-record of excellence in public service, that endeared him to millions of the electorates across the federation.
He further accused Obi of jumping from one political party to the other, insisting that the LP lacked the requisite structure to win the presidential contest.
On his qualification, Tinubu told the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, that he is a holder of a Degree of Bachelor of Science in Business and
Administration from the Chicago State University since 1979, saying he has
vast private and public sector work experience, including working with Mobil Oil Nigeria as an auditor, and later treasurer of the company.
READ SOME THE REASON TINUBU STATED THAT COUNTERED PETER OBI PETITION ON HIS RULINGS
“In a bid to actualize his quest for public service, left his lucrative and secure employment in Mobil Oil Nigeria, and forayed into active politics, as a founding member of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP).
“In 1992, he was elected by an overwhelming majority of lawful votes cast as a Senator of the Federal Republic Nigeria, representing Lagos West Senatorial District.
“The votes secured by the 2nd respondent at the time were the highest scored by any senatorial candidate in the entire country.
“As a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he distinguished himself as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Finance, Appropriation and Currency.
“Following the annulment of June 12, 1993, Nigerian presidential election and the consequent fresh militarization
of the Nigerian political leadership, which terminated the structures of elective governance in that Republic, he became a founding member of the notable pan-Nigerian pro-democracy group, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) where he was at the forefront of advocacy for a return to democratic governance and the fight against military rule.
“During the period in (viii) above (popularly referred to as the dark days of Nigeria’s military era because of human rights abuses and a clampdown on pro-democracy advocates), he suffered many arrests, intimidations, threats, search and violation of premises, which ultimately eventuated his proceeding on exile out of Nigeria.
“Many pro-democracy activists suffered wanton attacks including death suspected to have been state-sponsored in the said dark days and it was commonplace that a number of them proceeded on exile and together with the 2nd respondent, they continued to mount international pressure for the return of democratic rule to Nigeria.
These pressures eventually yielded positive result in 1999 with the return of democratic rule to Nigeria by the birthing of the 4th republic which is currently running and in which period, the 2nd respondent has been a constant and prominent feature.
