Atiku Enlists 19 SANs Including Ozekhome, Gadzama, Usoro To Challenge Tinubu’s Victory

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has assembled a legal team to challenge the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

KanyiDaily recalls that on March 1, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.

However, Atiku and the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi approached the tribunal to challenge Tinubu’s victory.

The two candidates rejected the presidential election results over alleged irregularities and non-compliance to the provisions of the electoral act.

On Wednesday, Atiku inaugurated  his legal team, which is headed by JK Gadzama and comprises 19 senior advocates of Nigeria (SANs).

While briefing the team at his campaign headquarters in Abuja, Atiku mandated them to “establish the claim of illegality in the February 25 presidential election and reclaim the mandate of the Nigerian people”.

In a statement released by his media office, Atiku said that “apart from reclaiming the mandate from those who undertook the electoral heist that was not a reflection of the will of Nigerians, the legal team should also use the opportunity of the trial to strengthen constitutional democracy in the country”.

Atiku also said it is “imperative that they work assiduously in reclaiming the mandate not necessarily because of him and the PDP, but to strengthen democracy and the electoral process and for generations unborn”.

“The members of the team include Chief Chris Uche (SAN), Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), Tayo Jegede (SAN), Ken Mozia (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Mahmood Magaji (SAN), Joe Abraham (SAN), Mr Chukwuma Umeh (SAN), Dr. Garba Tetengi (SAN) and Chief Emeka Etiaba (SAN),” the statement said.

“Others are Chief Goddy Uche (SAN), Prof. Maxwell Gidado (SAN); the National Legal Adviser of the PDP, A. K. Ajibade (SAN), Mr. O. M. Atoyebi, (SAN), Mrs. Nella Rabana (SAN), Paul Ogbole (SAN), Nuremi Jimoh (SAN), and Abdul Ibrahim (SAN).”

KanyiDaily recalls that the APC had also appointed 12 senior advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to defend Bola Tinubu at the presidential election petition tribunal.