A NIGERIAN appeals court yesterday claims by the opposition of irregularities in the country’s February presidential elections.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the claims filed by the People’s Democratic Party’s Atiku Abubakar, a former vice-president who came second in the election, the third-place finisher Peter Obi of the Labour Party as well as the Allied People’s Movement against President Bola Tinubu’s victory on the grounds that the opposition parties were not able to prove their cases.

The opposition challengers’ main points included that the election results had been illegally announced and that Mr Tinubu was not qualified to run for president because he was a citizen of Guinea and allegedly did not have the required academic credentials.

“It is clearly evident that the petitioners have failed to discharge the burden of proof placed on them by law,” said Haruna Tsammani, head of the panel.

He added: “They have not been able to leave any cogent, credible and acceptable evidence.”

The opposition, which had hinted at possible protests if the court upheld President Tinubu’s election, rejected the court’s ruling but did not immediately say if they would appeal it. 

The verdict can be appealed at Nigeria’s Supreme Court within 60 days.