On September 6, 2023, the court rendered its verdict, dismissing the petitions brought forth by Obi and Atiku and affirming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s election victory. The judgment, delivered after a marathon 12-hour session, solidified Tinubu’s position as the elected President.
In response to this ruling, Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25 general elections, and Obi of the Labour Party, expressed their intent to take the matter to the Supreme Court.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics show on September 10, 2023, Chief Robert Clark, an 85-year-old legal luminary, shared his perspective on the situation. Drawing from his wealth of experience in the legal profession, he voiced his belief that little may come of this appeal.
“I have a strong conviction that the unanimous decision of the Court of Appeal is beyond reproach; it is as final as any decision can be, and I doubt whether anything substantial will emerge from an appeal,” remarked Clark.
Clark echoed the tribunal’s view that the petitioners failed to establish their case beyond reasonable doubt.
Similarly, Primate Elijah Ayodele, the leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, offered advice to Atiku and Obi, cautioning them against pursuing the tribunal’s judgment at the Supreme Court. In a statement from his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin, the clergyman likened the appeal to squandering resources, stating it would yield no favorable outcome.
He stated, “Nigeria’s current need isn’t the Supreme Court’s ruling; the opposition didn’t heed the right course of action from the beginning. Politics transcends mere tactics; it involves a blend of prayer, effort, and struggle. Atiku and Obi were ill-prepared for this election. While God intended to shift power away from the ruling party, the opposition failed to take the right steps.”
Primate Elijah Ayodele further advised Atiku and Obi to forego the appeal and patiently await the next election, asserting that they “cannot secure victory at the Supreme Court.”
In light of the tribunal’s judgment, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi have pledged to pursue their case at the Supreme Court. However, senior legal expert Robert Clark suggests that their efforts in this regard may prove fruitless.
