The Peoples Democratic Party has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission over the February 25, 2023 presidential election which produced the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, as winner.
The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday morning declared Bola Tinubu, winner of the election and President-elect. Chairman of INEC and the election’s Returning Officer, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said Tinubu won the election with a total of eight million, seven hundred and ninety four thousand, seven hundred and twenty six (8,794,726) votes. Former vice president and candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, scored a total of six million, nine hundred and eighty four, five hundred and twenty (6,984,520) votes to come second. The Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, came third with six million, one hundred and one thousand, five hundred and thirty three (6,101,533) votes.
Both Atiku and Obi have disputed the results of the polls and vowed to challenge Tinubu’s declaration in court.
Despite filing a court process the PDP on Monday made good its threat by hitting the streets to protest the results calling for the cancellation of the process and a conduct of fresh polls.
The party started the peaceful protest in Abuja with hundreds of youths marching from the its national headquarters at the Legacy House to the headquaters of the Independent National electoral Commission in Maitama District of the Federal Capital where the party leadership submitted a protest letter to the electoral body.
The protest was led by Abubakar and Mr Iyorcha Ayu, the party’s National Chairman alongside other party leaders and supporters majority of who dressed in black clothes.
Abubakar told journalists that though they have filed a petition in court against the declaration of Tinubu as winner of the election, they decided to embark on the street procession to express disappointment at the result and the way INEC has handled the entire process, noting that it is within their right to so express their frustration.
