Chief Ambrose Owuru, a former presidential candidate of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) in the 2019 Nigerian elections, has filed a suit at the Supreme Court seeking the removal of President Bola Tinubu from office. Owuru contends that he was the rightful winner of the 2019 presidential election and that his tenure was unlawfully usurped by former President Muhammadu Buhari. He argues that President Tinubu’s current occupation of the presidential office is illegitimate.
In his suit, Owuru alleges that his earlier case challenging the 2019 election results was dismissed by the Supreme Court due to a scheduling mix-up. He is now requesting the Court to declare him the legitimate president and to order his immediate inauguration. Additionally, Owuru seeks the disqualification of President Tinubu, citing a past forfeiture of $460,000 in the United States related to alleged drug trafficking offenses. He also accuses Tinubu of being an active agent of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which he claims renders him ineligible to hold Nigeria’s highest office.
The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for this case today, December 16, 2024. The defendants in the suit include former President Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and President Tinubu. Notably, the Court of Appeal had previously imposed a fine of N40 million on Owuru for filing a similar suit, labeling it as frivolous and an abuse of judicial process. It remains unclear whether this fine has been paid prior to the filing of the new suit.
Legal experts are closely monitoring the proceedings, given the serious implications of Owuru’s allegations and the potential impact on Nigeria’s political landscape. The Supreme Court’s decision in this matter could set a significant precedent regarding the adjudication of electoral disputes and the enforcement of qualifications for public office in Nigeria.
As the hearing unfolds, the nation awaits the Supreme Court’s ruling, which will determine the legitimacy of President Tinubu’s tenure and address the broader issues raised by Owuru’s petition. The outcome is expected to have far-reaching consequences for Nigeria’s democratic processes and the rule of law.
