Atiku petitions the Supreme Court to reject a technicality,overrule Tinubu on new evidence.

Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the February 25 presidential election, has asked the Supreme Court to disregard a technicality and grant his application for leave to tender fresh and additional evidence to support his claim that President Bola Tinubu submitted forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Atiku based his petition on the premise that providing false documents by any candidate, especially one seeking the highest office in the land, is a serious constitutional violation that should not be promoted.

This was said by the former Vice President in his response on point of law to Tinubu’s argument to granting leave for Atiku to introduce new evidence before the Supreme Court.

President Tinubu had objected on the grounds of jurisdiction and that the issue of qualification is a pre-election subject, among other things, and had subsequently requested the court to deny the plea.

While criticising President Tinubu, Atiku argued that merit issues should not be decided or ruled on at the interlocutory stage.

While emphasising that they are only at this stage requesting leave from the Supreme Court to hear new evidence, the appellants/applicants stated that “to refuse to give the leave as the respondents have suggested would amount to undue formality.”

Meanwhile, Atiku argued in a 20-paragraph affidavit deposed to in support of the application that if the Supreme Court grants the application, there will be no need for “any further argument other than the written address in support of same, showing that the 2nd Respondent is in violation of the provisions of Section 137 (1) (j) of the Constitution by presenting a certificate disclaimed by the institution from where he purportedly procured same.”

Atiku further criticised President Tinubu’s claim that he was inconsistent in his names, calling it “immaterial and pedestrian” given that there is no petition contesting his qualification.

Furthermore, Atiku stated that the presenting of a fake certificate disqualifies a candidate for all time, regardless of when it is delivered.