736 petitions have been filed to challenge outcome of 2019 elections – Appeal Court
The court of appeal says a total number of 736 petitions have so far been filed to challenge the outcome of the just concluded general elections contested on state and federal levels.
The figure was released by Rabi Abdulazeez, deputy chief registrar, election petitions tribunal of the court of appeal on Thursday.
A breakdown by Abdulazeez shows that four petitions have been filed to challenge the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the February 23 presidential poll.
Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is among those challenging the outcome of the presidential election.
Both Atiku and the PDP had in their petitions marked: CA/PEPC/002/2019 and filed on March 18, sought the tribunal to nullify the election of Buhari and the All Progressive Congress (APC) on the grounds that they did not score the lawful majority votes at the presidential election.
Abdulazeez also disclosed that while 207 petitions have been filed to challenge the outcome of the senatorial elections, the house of representatives elections had so far attracted 101 petitions.
The deputy chief registrar said a total number of 43 petitions have been filed to challenge the outcome of governorship elections that took place on March 9.
The official also disclosed that 381 petitions have been filed to challenge the outcome of the state houses of assembly elections.
The appeal court is the coordinating secretariat for all election petition matters.