A Nigerian court on Wednesday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant the main opposition party access to election materials following President Muhammadu Buhari's contested re-election victory.
Buhari, 76, secured 56% of the vote in the February 23 election against 41% for Atiku Abubakar, a 72-year-old businessman and former vice president of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). The PDP alleged irregularities, including disproportionately high voter turnout in conflict-affected northeastern states compared to more stable regions.
The opposition filed a motion demanding inspection of voter registers, ballot papers, and electronic voting machines. A three-judge panel ruled that the PDP must be allowed to examine these materials to support its election petition. "INEC must allow the applicant and their representatives to inspect polling documents... to enable the applicants to institute and maintain an election petition," the court stated.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) dismissed claims of fraud, calling the election "free and fair." A campaign spokesman said the party would challenge Atiku in court to "show the world the free and fair nature of the comprehensive defeat of Atiku at the polls." The election occurred amid ongoing security threats from Islamic militants targeting military bases in the northeast.
