from EMEKA OKONKWO in Abuja, Nigeria
Nigeria Bureau
ABUJA, (CAJ News) – THE Supreme Court’s confirmation of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president closes an uncertain chapter in Nigeria’s history.
His election has been tainted by mystery since the world’s largest Black nation held polls in February.
The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has congratulated the Supreme Court, which has ended months of legal battles over the presidential race.
The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria noted that a few political watchers and legal pundits had believed that 25 percent votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was mandatory for a presidential candidate to be declared the winner.
The apex court has disagreed with this interpretation, ruling that Tinubu had, of legal fact, met the required threshold of winning 25 percent of the vote in two-thirds of all 36 states and Abuja combined.
“The new legal interpretation is now the law until the apex court says otherwise in a similar case in the future.” said CNPP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, James Ezema.
CNPP advised it was time for governance and the federal government under the leadership of Tinubu should as a matter of duty work towards alleviating the suffering of the masses as a result of the increasing cost of living and worsening unemployment in the country.
Ex-Lagos governor, Tinubu leads the All Progressives Congress (APC), which has been in power since 2015.
Former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and erstwhile governor, Peter Obi, of the Labour Party (LP) challenged Tinubu’s election, alleging vote rigging.
– CAJ News