A Presidential Election Petition Legal team consisting of 12 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) has been appointed by the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) to defend the mandate of the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was declared the winner of the February 25 presidential election.
The legal team will defend the party’s flag bearer’s victory in court cases filed by the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP).
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Mr. Peter Obi of PDP and LP respectively have both vowed to challenge the election results in court.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday morning by the APC National Legal Adviser, Ahmad Usman El-Marzuq, the mandate of the team, which is led by Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), is to
explore every legal means to defend the mandate.
The statement hinted that the party appointed a team of highly qualified and experienced lawyers to represent it at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
It further said that the team is comprised of legal luminaries with vast experience in election petition matters, constitutional law, and litigation.
“The legal team consisting of twelve (12) Senior Advocates of Nigeria and the National Legal Adviser of the Party, Ahmad Usman El-Marzuq, Esq., is led by Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, a renowned lawyer who has successfully handled various high-profile election matters and other landmark cases,” the statement added.
The full list of the Legal team is as follows:
“1. LATEEF FAGBEMI, SAN (LEAD COUNSEL)
2. AHMAD USMAN EL-MARZUQ, ESQ. (Life Bencher)
3. SAM OLOGUNORISA, SAN
4. ROTIMI OGUNESO, SAN
5. OLABISI SOYEBO, SAN
6. GBOYEGA OYEWOLE, SAN
7. MURITALA ABDULRASHEED, SAN
8. ALIYU OMEIZA SAIKI, SAN
9. TAJUDEEN OLADOJA, SAN
10.PIUS AKUBO, SAN
11.OLUSEYE OPASANYA, SAN
12.SURAJU SAIDA, SAN
13.KAZEEM ADENIYI, SAN.
The party declared that it has confidence that the legal team possesses requisite expertise and experience to ensure a successful outcome for the APC in the Presidential Election Petition matters.
It urged members of the party to support the team in its effort to defend the will and mandate of the people. The party also called on all parties involved to conduct themselves with utmost professionalism and respect for the rule of law throughout the legal process.