Hope Democratic Party Urges Tribunal To Stop Jonathan's Inauguration

Abuja, May 25, (THEWILL) – A petition filed by the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) at the Presidential Election Tribunal in Abuja has asked the tribunal to grant an injunction restraining President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) from presenting themselves for their scheduled inauguration on May 29, 2011 at the Eagle Square until their petition on the Presidential election is disposed off by the tribunal.

The HDP is also seeking an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return it issued Jonathan and Sambo a few weeks ago.

Recall the political party which had Chief Ambrose Owuru as its Presidential candidate had earlier filed a petition challenging the victory of President Jonathan at the poll, and also accused INEC of awarding 30 million votes to him from votes it claimed were cast for the HDP candidate.

Furthermore, the HDP had asked the tribunal to nullify the victory of Jonathan as INEC failed to conduct the election according to the terms of the 2010 Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution. It said INEC did not hold the election on April 09, 2011 as stipulated by the Electoral Act and that “the ballot papers used for the election were designed without the petitioner’s logo in its true colour, size or design to exclude the petitioner and divert and discount votes of the petitioner to other political parties.”

HDP prayed the tribunal to in the alternative reverse the 30 million votes that were diverted from its candidate and declare Owuru winner of the Presidential election.

Hearing for the application has been slated for May 27, 2011.