In this interview with FRIDAY OLOKOR, Dr. Remi Olatubora(SAN), a former Commissioner for Education in Ondo State, discusses the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal’s judgment and its implications for Nigeria’s legal system.

When candidates consider future elections in Nigeria, Dr. Olatubora emphasizes the importance of thorough preparation for legal challenges, including training polling agents and collecting detailed reports from polling units. He stresses the need for specific complaints tied to particular polling units to support election petitions.

Regarding the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal’s handling of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) status, Dr. Olatubora explains that the judges interpreted the constitution to treat the FCT like a state, requiring candidates to secure at least one-quarter of the votes in two-thirds of the states and the FCT for victory.

Regarding electronic transmission of results, he clarifies that while photographs of results were electronically transmitted, the figures themselves were manually computed at polling units. He believes the distinction is crucial to understanding the process.

Dr. Olatubora acknowledges the need to expedite election-related litigation but emphasizes the importance of improving the overall electoral system to reduce the need for litigation. He suggests creating a more foolproof electoral system to minimize legal disputes.

Regarding parties approaching the Supreme Court after the tribunal, he emphasizes the importance of presenting cases based on facts and law, without the ability to introduce new facts at that stage.

Regarding Wole Soyinka’s comments on the 2023 election, Dr. Olatubora agrees with Soyinka’s assessment, citing the lack of evidence to support claims of a majority of votes in favor of Peter Obi and the absence of complaints against Atiku’s vote tally. He suggests that while Peter Obi may have gained popularity on social media, he did not secure victory at the polls.