The Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his campaign council have rejected claims that they recruited only lawyers of South‑East descent to challenge the declaration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 elections. The legal battle also names the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a respondent before the presidential election petitions tribunal. The allegation arose after a meeting between the lawyers and INEC’s National Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, was said to involve attorneys mainly from one region.
Tinubu secured 8,794,726 votes, defeating Peoples Democratic Party candidate Atiku Abubakar, who received 6,984,520 votes, and the Labour Party flag‑bearer, who garnered 6,101,533 votes. Both Atiku and Obi rejected INEC’s results, each holding separate press conferences in which they alleged widespread violence and massive rigging. The dispute intensified two weeks ago when the two main opposition candidates reportedly approached the court for permission to inspect the election materials used during the poll.
Obi is said to have engaged at least 20 Senior Advocates of Nigeria to contest the February 25 presidential election outcome. Party sources disclosed that the legal team was assembled from various chambers across the country to reclaim his mandate after Tinubu was declared the winner. In response to accusations that Obi’s legal team consisted solely of his Igbo kinsmen, Yunusa Tanko, chief spokesman for the Obi‑Datti Presidential Campaign Council, refuted the claim, stating that the initial list released was incomplete.
A second list issued on Tuesday showed that, although the team presented to INEC during Monday’s inspection was led by Senior Advocate Dr Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, the PCC’s legal directorate is headed by Victoria Shanti of Adamawa State. Tanko explained, “Our head of department for the legal team itself is Victoria Shanti from Adamawa State. She is supported by the Katsina‑based legal icon Yakubu Bawa, who was also among the 60‑member team that visited INEC on Monday. When you look closely at their names, you will discover that Obi has a diverse list of legal team.”
Other members of the legal counsel include Hon J. S. Okutepa; Olumide Ayeni; Olalekan Ojo; Audu Anuga; Prof Agbo Madaki; Nguemu Uja; Dayo Ashomibare; F. N. Ogbe; Precious Amukpo; David Agashua; L. Michaelson; and Olusola Ebisemi.
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