PDP looks set to challenge election decision in court

NIGERIA'S ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) may challenge yesterday's presidential election results in court after it emerged that its polling agents refused to sign the final result sheets issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec).

Yesterday, Inec declared General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the winner of Nigeria's presidential elections, defeating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan by 2.57m votes. General Buhari scored 15,424,921 votes or 53.95% of the valid ballots cast, compared with 12,853,162 for President Jonathan.

Despite President Jonathan conceding defeat by congratulating General Buhari on his victory, his party agents at the count refused to sign the final result sheets when they were presented by Inec chairman Professor Attahiru Jega. Elder Godsday Orubebe, the head of the PDP delegation, who had earlier caused a row at the count, had left the National Collation Centre in Abuja before the announcement of the final result by Professor Jega.

His deputy Dr Bello Fadile, was present ‎when party agents were being called upon to sign the result sheet but refused to put his name to the document and just received a copy and left. At about 3.36am when Dr Fadile approached the podium, where the Inec chairman was seated, instead of signing the result sheet as other agents invited before him had done, he only spoke few words in hushed tones, shook hands with Professor Jega and returned to his seat.

Dr Fadile said shortly after the result was declared, that the party was not satisfied with the outcome of the election and had decided to challenge it at the election tribunal. He added: “Whether I sign the result sheet or I don’t sign it, does not make any difference.

"It doesn’t invalidate the result‎, so when we go to court, then we can challenge the result. The party petitioned, don’t forget, so the party will follow through the petition as there are rules for this and the law is there."

He added that PDP will follow the due process as instructed by President Jonathan. He added that in this instance, this will mean going to the tribunal.