I’m far more qualified than Atiku, Buhari tells tribunal | Nairalaw

* Challenges him to produce his credentials Eric Ikhilae,
Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has responded to allegations
contained in the petition by Atiku Abubakar and his party, the
People’s Democratic Party (PDP) before the presidential election
tribunal.

Buhari, in a response filed on April 16 by a team of lawyers led
by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), faulted the claim by Atiku and the PDP
that he lacked the requisite academic qualification to stand for
election to the office of the President.

The President said he was far more qualified than Atiku and
challenged Atiku to produce his academic credentials before the
tribunal.

Buhari faulted the entire petition filed by the PDP and Atiku,
noting that they are more about pre-election issues, which the
Court of Appeal, sitting as a tribunal lacked jurisdiction.

He also argued that the petitioners told lies against themselves
in the petition and made conflicting claims which the tribunal
cannot grant.

For instance, Buhari noted that while the petitioners claimed to
have won the last presidential election and also won elections in
many states in the south-south and south-eastern part of the
country, they also urged the court to nullify the election and
order a fresh presidential election.

Burari argued that by virtue of Section of 137of the Electoral
Act, petitioners cannot question the results of elections in states
where they claim to have won and still retain themselves as
petitioners.

He asked the tribunal to dismiss the petition on the grounds
that the reliefs the petitioners sought by the petitioners are
frivolous.

“The entire reliefs are not justifiable, as the petitioners, who
claim to have scored majority of lawful votes in substantial number
of states, are also questioning their own return in those
states.

“The petitioners cannot act as petitioners and respondents in
the same petition.”

Details shortly…