Court filings indicated that six opposition-led Nigerian states had urged the Supreme Court to declare last weekend’s presidential election unlawful because the electoral authority violated the law and its procedures during the count.
Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party was proclaimed the winner.
Still, the two main opposition challengers have stated the outcome was fraudulent and threatened to fight it in court.
Six of Nigeria’s 36 states—Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, and Sokoto—filed court documents on Feb. 28 alleging that the electoral commission had failed to submit results electronically.
They requested a judicial declaration that the presidential election results released by the INEC chairman “were unlawful, null and void, and of no consequence whatsoever.”
The government, Tinubu’s campaign committee, INEC, and Nigeria’s Attorney General, Abubakar Malami, legally mentioned as a respondent, did not immediately comment.
The People’s Democratic Party, whose presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar finished second, governs the states.
European Union, Commonwealth, and other election monitors highlighted several issues, including vote manipulation prevention measures breakdowns.
Yet, they did not charge fraud. Instead, the commission apologized for counting technical issues.
The tribunal-like Appeals Court in Nigeria hears election challenges.
The six states sued the federal government instead of INEC, claiming that this was a constitutional matter under the jurisdiction of Nigeria’s highest court.
The Supreme Court registry shows no hearing date.
Several legal challenges to Nigerian presidential elections have failed.
