ATIKU ABUBAKAR IS NOT A NIGERIAN, ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS TELLS TRIBUNAL
The party in reply to the petition, filed by its lead counsel, Lateef Fagbemi, further faulted the candidacy of Abubakar in the election, adding that the 11.1 million votes recorded in favor of the two petitioners(Abubakar and his party) should be voided and considered as wasted votes.
Penpushing further reports that, All Progressives Congress (APC) averred that Abubakar was born on November 25, 1946 in Jada, Adamawa, in Northern Cameroon and was therefore a citizen of Cameroon and not a Nigerian by birth.
The All Progressives Congress According (APC), also noted that contrary to the assertion of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Presidential Candidate petition, he has no right to be voted for as a candidate in the election to the office of President of Nigeria.
Penpushing also reports that, the ruling party pointed out that apart from the issue of the origin of Abubakar, observed that most of the claims contained in his petition had become statute barred and that the tribunal was not the appropriate place to entertain such.
The party equally faulted the issue of the educational qualification of Buhari as raised by Abubakar, declaring that such could not be treated by the tribunal, ‘because the period for claims and objections on such issues had expired’.
Penpushing reports that, the ruling party posited that the petitioners failed and neglected to use the appropriate period to challenge the validity of the educational qualification of Buhari. It is recalled that, Abubakar who was the former Vice-President had in his petition to the tribunal, faulted the conduct of the February 23 Presidential Election on grounds of non-compliance.
The Presidential Candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supported his petition with relevant electoral laws and other malpractices such as intimidation of voters, also in the petition claimed to have scored the majority of the lawful votes in the election and prayed the tribunal to declare him and his party as winners of the election.
Penpushing also reports that, the petitioners in the alternative, prayed for an order for the cancellation of the election and another order by the tribunal directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election that would conform to relevant laws.
