The legal battle to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s election is set to resume as the Supreme Court schedules the hearing of the election petition appeal filed by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the February presidential poll.
In a notice issued by the Supreme Court Registrar, Zainab Garba, the hearing proceedings for Atiku’s appeal will take place in Abuja on October 23, 2023.
The Supreme Court’s workload has raised concerns in the House of Representatives, which is urging the Federal Government to appoint new justices to ensure effective justice delivery in the country. The House has recommended the appointment of nine new justices to expedite justice matters.
Atiku, who came second in the election, had previously filed a petition challenging the election results. The tribunal dismissed the petition, prompting Atiku’s appeal to the Supreme Court. His appeal raises various issues, including electronic transmission of results and Tinubu’s qualifications.
The Supreme Court’s Director of Information and the Nigerian Bar Association support the call for the appointment of new justices, highlighting the need to fill the vacant positions and maintain the court’s full complement of 21 justices.