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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Presidential Election Petition Court has held that the Labour Pary (LP) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, failed to specify how they scored the majority of lawful votes cast in the February 25 presidential election.
While ruling on the preliminary objections filed by the respondents, Justice Abba Mohammed, said Labour Party and Obi made generic allegations of irregularities, suppression of votes and corrupt practices to rob them of their votes, especially in Rivers, Benue, Lagos, Taraba, Ondo, Oyo and Osun States, but failed to specify the polling units affected.
Justice Mohammed further held that LP also failed to prove the allegations of suppression of votes against the Indpendent National Electoral Commission(INEC).
“Petitioners alleged irregularities but did not specify the areas and polling units where the irregularities took place. They failed to show where their votes where reduced and the number of votes affected.
“Pleadings must show facts before repsondents can file action. The petitioners must show a clear, unambiguous facts in their pleadings,” the judge held.