The Justice James Ogebe presidential election petition tribunal siting in Abuja capital city of Nigeria this afternoon(26/2/2008) dismissed the petition of the All Nigerian Peoples Party(ANPP) presidential candidate in the 2007 general elections, Rtd. General Muhammadu Buhari.
The tribunal held that Buhari proved that there was substantial non compliance with the electoral act but failed to prove that the non compliance substantially affected the outcome of the election.
The tribunal is yet to give verdict on the petition of the presidential candidate of the Action Congress(AC), Mr. Atiku Abubakar.
Buhari and Abubakar had brought separate petitions challenging the election of President Yar' Adua. The two petitions were however consolidated and ruling was scheduled today.
Meanwhile, there is strong indication of a possible dismissal of Mr. Atiku's petition, which will mean that the election of Mr. Umar Yar'Adua and his deputy, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in April, 2007, would have been validated.
