Atiku opens case against Yar’Adua

Lanre Adewole, Abuja - 26.11.2007

CANDIDATE of the Action Congress (AC) in the April 21 presidential election, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, will today open his case against the election of President Umaru Yar'Adua before the presidential election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja.

Atiku, in his petition on the outcome of the poll, wants the tribunal to quash Yar'Adua's victory over alleged irregularities that he said characterised the election.

A member of his legal team, Chief Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), said exhibits that would be relied upon to void the election would be tendered today.

He added that documents relevant to his client's case had earlier been tendered by the ANPP standard-bearer, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), which would be relied upon by them.

Apart from irregularities, Atiku would also try to convince the tribunal that he was excluded from the poll. He had in his possession, a version of the presidential result obtained from the internet with his name omitted.

Buhari had also tendered two conflicting final presidential election results released by INEC on the same election. The gazetted indictment which allegedly disqualified both President Yar'Adua and his deputy, Dr. Jonathan Goodluck, from contesting the 2007 presidential poll was also tendered alongside the European Union report which passed a damning verdict on the poll.

It will be recalled that Buhari, his Action Congress (AC) counterpart, Atiku Abubakar and five other presidential candidate had, shortly after the general poll, stormed the presidential election tribunal with separate petitions seeking the annulment of the April 21 presidential election.

Atiku is urging the tribunal to void the election following his alleged exclusion from the poll together with the involvement of the military by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the conduct of the election contrary to the powers conferred on his office by section 217 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He also wants the tribunal to issue an order disqualifying Professor Maurice Iwu from participating in the conduct of any future elections in the country.