Thread by @thecableng

LIVE: Tribunal gives verdict on @atiku’s petition against @MBuhari | TheCable thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #PresidentialTribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig Good morning esteemed readers, welcome to TheCable’s live coverage of the tribunal's verdict on the presidential election. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #PresidentialTribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig After more than six months that the Independent National Electoral Commission declared winners and losers, the tribunal is set to deliver judgement on a petition challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-…

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had asked the tribunal to declare him winner on grounds that he garnered more votes than Buhari across the polling units. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-…

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig He had also claimed the president did not have the necessary academic qualifications to participate in the election. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #ElectionTribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig There are a number of notable dignitaries already present including Abba Kyari, Buhari's chief of staff who was one of the seven witnesses called by the president during the court sittings.

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig Also present from Buhari's camp are @fkeyamo, minister of state for Niger Delta affairs; and Osita Okechukukw, DG of Voice of Nigeria (VON). thecable.ng/live-tribunal-…

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo As expected, the court room is already filled to the brim with many people sitting on the floor. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-…

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo The five-man panel of justices led by Mohammed Garba are now in the court room. Garba asks the court clerk to call the case number after which parties were asked to enter appearance. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-…

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo Uche Secondus, @OfficialPDPNig national chairman, is standing in for the opposition party/petitioners while Adams Oshiomhole, his counterpart in the APC, is appearing for the ruling party. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-…

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo Livy Uzoukwu, counsel to the petitioners, also announces his appearance. He is here alongside Chris Uche, Mike Ozekhome among other senior lawyers. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-…

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo Yunus Usman enters appearance for INEC. Taiwo Shoetan, Buhari's counsel also announces his appearance. And finally, Lateef Fagebemi, APC counsel, announces his appearance.
thecable.ng/live-tribunal-…

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo For the record: @atiku's petition has @inecnigeria, @MBuhari and @OfficialAPCNg - in that order - as respondents. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-…

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria BUHARI'S LEAD COUNSEL NOT IN COURT
Fagbemi tells the court that Wole Olanipekun, Buhari's lead counsel, is "in far away Europe." thecable.ng/live-tribunal-…

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria The first ruling coming up is on a motion filed by INEC. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #PresidentialTribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria .@inecnigeria had asked that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo be joined alongside @MBuhari as a party in the petition filed by @atiku. The commission had said @ProfOsinbajo deserves a right to fair hearing as a co-winner of the election. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-…

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo Citing section 178 of the constitution, Garba says there is no need for Osinbajo to be joined in the matter. "The vice-president was nominated by the presidential candidate," the lead justice adds. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-…

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo The panel subsequently dismisses the motion as filed by INEC. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-…

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo Another motion filed by INEC is up for ruling. In the second motion, the electoral commission asked the tribunal to strike out the witnesses called upon by the PDP and Atiku. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-…

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo INEC also challenged the competence of the motion as well as the jurisdiction of the tribunal to hear the matter. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-…

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo Garba, the lead judge, is still reeling out his findings viz-a-viz citations. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #PresidentialTribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo BREAKING: Presidential tribunal dismisses INEC's motion arguing that Atiku's lead counsel, Livy Uzoukwu, is not a legal practitioner called to the Nigerian Bar. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-…
📸: @NGCourtofAppeal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal The tribunal held that INEC's allegation is unfounded and that Uzoukwu was indeed called to the Nigerian Bar. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #PresidentialTribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal The tribunal also ruled that the lead counsel of the PDP was conferred senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 1992, and proceeded to strike out the motion as filed by INEC. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #PresidentialTribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal The tribunal is about to rule on the last motion filed by INEC. A prayer in the motion is seeking to strike out paragraphs 1 to 24 of the 1st respondent (INEC) reply to the petitioners in part 2 of the petition. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #PresidentialTribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal The paragraphs INEC is seeking to strike out in the response relate to issues raised by the PDP and Atiku on INEC servers. They also touch on the transmission of the election results. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #PresidentialTribunal #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal BREAKING: Tribunal refuses INEC's request to dismiss Atiku's prayer seeking Buhari's disqualification on the ground that he was not qualified to contest the election. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal The tribunal struck out an application filed by INEC, the first respondent, asking it to nullify grounds 4 and 5 of the petition filed by Atiku and the PDP. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal But the tribunal held that grounds 4 and 5 of the petition is not a pre-election matter and that they are hereby accepted based on the provisions of the electoral act 2010 as amended. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal TRIBUNAL RULES ATIKU IS QUALIFIED TO FILE THE PETITION
The tribunal also dismisses a contention by @MBuhari that @atiku was not qualified to file the petition challenging his election. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal #PresidentialTribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal TRIBUNAL RULES AGAINST BUHARI ON USE OF CARD READERS

The tribunal rules against the motion filed by Buhari, the 2nd respondent, challenging Atiku's argument on the non-use of the smart card reader and other electronic devices. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal It agrees that the use of card reader is a valid component of the electoral process. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal The tribunal dismisses the motion filed by the PDP and Atiku alleging abuse of court processes relating to an application filed by the APC, the third respondent. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal The court then delivers its ruling on the APC's application in question. It struck out some paragraphs in the PDP's petition but upheld the paragraphs on qualification and lying on oath. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal Garba, the lead judge, says he agrees with the submission of the respondent's counsel that the tribunal has no jurisdiction over the matter. He adds that the court lacks power to try those accused of using government funds for purposes they were not appropriated for. #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal TRIBUNAL RULES ATIKU IS QUALIFIED TO FILE THE PETITION
The tribunal also dismisses a contention by Buhari that Atiku was not qualified to file the petition challenging his election. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal The tribunal goes on a short break which Garba, the lead judge, says is to enable the panel to "refresh." thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal
📸: @NGCourtofAppeal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal BUHARI VS ATIKU: THE TRIBUNAL HAS SO FAR:
Dismissed INEC's claim that Livy Uzoukwu, Atiku's lead counsel is not a legal practitioner.
Dismissed INEC's claim that Osinbajo should have been joined in the suit alongside Buhari. Read more 👉thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal The tribunal is back from recess and has commenced its proceedings. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… via @thecableng #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal THE LONG AWAITED MOMENT IS HERE!

The tribunal is now going through the main petition filed by the PDP and Atiku challenging Buhari's election. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… via @thecableng #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal The tribunal reads out the various premises contained in the petition as filed by the PDP, including:

- That Buhari was not duly elected by the majority of votes

- That the electoral act was not complied with... Read more 👉thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal FOR THE RECORD: The PDP is asking the tribunal to determine:

Whether Buhari was at he time of the election qualified to contest or not

Whether @MBuhari submitted false evidence to INEC with regards to his academic qualifications...👉thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… via @thecableng

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal Garba, the lead judge, is now giving ruling on the PDP's argument that Buhari does not have the academic qualifications to contest for president. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… via @thecableng #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal Garba says Buhari had claimed in his submission that he has the requisite educational qualifications to run for president. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… via @thecableng #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal 'NO EVIDENCE BUHARI LIED ABOUT HIS ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS'

The lead judge adds that there is no evidence before the court to prove that Buhari, the second respondent, lied in his form or that he joined the army without the secondary educational qualifications in question.

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal WAS BUHARI QUALIFIED TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT?

Garba also says the 1999 constitution only requires a presidential candidate to be educated to the level of obtaining a school certificate. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… via @thecableng #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal The lead judge quotes a previous ruling of the court of appeal which defines 'school certificate level' or its equivalent as education up to secondary school certificate examination level. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… via @thecableng #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal 'BUHARI'S MILITARY QUALIFICATIONS HIGHER THAN SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE'

Garba says the qualifications @MBuhari obtained from the military are higher than the secondary school certificate being contended. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal He adds that the army had dismissed the claims put forward by the @OfficialPDPNig regarding @MBuhari's certificate and that the petitioners failed to further establish credible grounds on the claim. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal BREAKING: Buhari qualified to contest for president, tribunal rules thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… via @thecableng #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal 'BUHARI'S CV IMPRESSIVE'

Mohammed Garba, the lead judge, said: “The CV contains impressive credentials that enables the second respondent (Buhari) to contest for the presidential election." thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… via @thecableng #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal 'BUHARI EMINENTLY QUALIFIED TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT'

“The second respondent has more than secondary school certificate. There is no doubt he is not only qualified but also eminently qualified to contest the election as shown... Read more thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… via @thecableng

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal Remember the 'errors' in Buhari's name on his certificates? This is what the court has to say:

The lead judge says the second respondent (Buhari) is not the maker of his certificate, and that there is nothing to show that... thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal TRIBUNAL: PDP FAILED TO PROVE ITS ALLEGATIONS ON BUHARI'S CERTIFICATE

Garba continues: “I am of the strong view that the petitioner did not prove that the second respondent does not possess the necessary qualification to contest for president. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal The tribunal is now ruling on the prayer to determine whether @MBuhari was duly elected president. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… via @thecableng #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal BREAKING: Tribunal dismisses PDP's claim on server, electronic transmission of results

The lead judge says the method of collation and transmission according to the electoral act is manual "at every level". thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal 'I AM NOT AWARE OF A CENTRAL (INEC) SERVER'

Garba adds: "There is no provision authorising the first respondent (INEC) or any of its officers to transfer election results to any of the server. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… via @thecableng #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal TRIBUNAL DISMISSES RESULTS PRESENTED BY PDP

The lead judge dismisses the results which the PDP and Atiku claimed were obtained from INEC's website. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… via @thecableng #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal "It is my view that whatever results you claim to have gotten belong to a whistle-blower. It is possible to use scientific method to alter data on a website. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal The tribunal is still reading out the various premises contained in the argument on whether Buhari was duly elected as president. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal BREAKING: Tribunal dismisses alleged malpractices in presidential election thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal The lead judge says nothing to show there were malpractices in the presidential election. "The evidence put forward by the witnesses called by the petitioners is not sufficient to prove the monumental allegation of electoral malpractices pleaded," Garba says. #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal The lead judge proceeds to list some of the allegations the PDP and Atiku raised in their petition: Compromised printing of election materials, manipulation of ballot boxes, manipulation of card readers, manipulation of accreditation and collation,.. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-…

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal ...manipulation of security agencies and militarisation of election, manipulation of election materials' delivery, arbitrary arrest of petitioners' supporters and massive thumb-printing of ballot papers. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal "The petitioners have a duty to prove all the allegations which are criminal in nature beyond reasonable doubt," the lead judge says in his ruling. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-… #Tribunal

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal DID BUBA GALADIMA'S ENCOUNTER WITH SECURITY OPERATIVES INFLUENCE THE ELECTION?

Garba further says that Buba Galadima's alleged harassment by security operatives has nothing to do with the criminal allegations of malpractices in the presidential election as claimed by the PDP

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal ELECTORAL OFFICIALS HARASSED?

The PDP claimed electoral officials were harassed and no voting in a number of polling units. But the lead judge says the petitioners failed to call the polling unit agents involved to testify to the alleged harassment. thecable.ng/live-tribunal-…

@atiku @MBuhari @OfficialAPCNg @OfficialPDPNig @fkeyamo @inecnigeria @ProfOsinbajo @NGCourtofAppeal LONGEST COURT SITTING IN NIGERIA'S HISTORY?

The tribunal proceeding has been on for more than nine hours since it began at about 9:30am. No wonder one of the lawyers present said it is probably the longest court sitting in Nigeria's history. #Tribunal