The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has assembled a legal team of 19 Senior Advocates of Nigeria to challenge the outcome of the February 25 election.
The team headed by a seasoned litigation and commercial lawyer, JK Gadzama is expected to establish the claim of illegality in the election and possibly reclaim the mandate as desired by Atiku Abubakar.
The list of SANs includes 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).
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).
While briefing the legal team on Wednesday, Atiku Abubakar was quoted saying 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.”
“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 Independent National Electoral Commission declared Tinubu as the President-elect having polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat his closest rivals, Atiku and Obi who scored 6,984,520 and 6,101, votes, respectively.
Atiku Abubakar and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, have refused to concede defeat in the February 25 presidential election, vowing to recover their mandate in court.
The duo have approached Presidential Election Court to seek permission for the inspection of election materials used during the presidential’s poll.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja last Friday graciously granted leave to Atiku and Obi to have access to all the sensitive materials used for the conduct of the election.
Tinubu, the president-elect, on Tuesday constituted his legal team led by Lateef Fagbemi, SAN to defend his mandate.