The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has granted
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Atiku Abubakar, its presidential
candidate, leave for substituted service on the All Progressives Congress
(APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari, it’s presidential candidate in the
February 23 election.
In a motion ex parte dated March 2, 2019, Chris Uche, Atiku’s counsel, had
asked the court for leave for substituted service on the APC.
In the application, which was brought upon seven grounds, Uche said all
efforts to serve the APC proved abortive, but he added that the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had been served.
The three-man panel led by Justice Abdul Aboki therefore granted the
application.
Atiku and his party are challenging the outcome of the election on the
grounds of alleged massive rigging, malpractices substantial
non-compliance with the electoral laws.
In the petition, Atiku and PDP are praying that its candidate be declared
winner of the February 23 presidential election.
They are also asking the tribunal to nullify the poll and order for a
fresh election that will be conducted in line with the provisions of the
electoral laws.