Aviation minister Festus Keyamo says opposition candidates Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of Labour Party both pursued their petitions against President Bola Tinubu’s election with venom and hate, but courageous Supreme Court justice have taught them a bitter lesson.

In a post on X shortly after the apex court affirmed Mr Tinubu’s victory on Thursday, Mr Keyamo said “by the judgment of the Supreme Court today, the laymen prowling all over the social media can now clearly see that there is a wide chasm between emotions and law. 

“These were Election Petitions pursued with unnecessary venom and hatred by most of those involved. Today, they have learnt a bitter lesson that such venom, hatred and sentiment have no place in judicial proceedings and deliberations. Their journey has come to a grinding end,” he added. 

Mr Keyamo lauded the Supreme Court justices, saying they were courageous despite abuses from supporters of Messrs Abubakar and Obi. 

“They (Mr Abubakar and Mr Obi) kept giving their supporters false hopes and goading them in the wrong direction. Unfortunately for them, all the vituperations poured out against the judiciary actually cut no ice with it. Our Justices are always firm, courageous and cerebral. Kudos to them,” he said. 

The Supreme Court on Thursday affirmed Mr Tinubu’s victory, rejecting fresh evidence of certificate forgery tendered before it by Mr Abubakar. 

“Facts and matters that were not rendered in the tribunal have no place in the appeal,” Justice John Okoro ruled, adding that “A petitioner shall not be allowed to introduce new evidences in an appeal.”

Though the Supreme Court affirmed Mr Tinubu’s controversial electoral victory, Thursday’s judgement did not clear Mr Tinubu of the certificate forgery scandal that has trailed his career as a politician, sparking criticisms from Nigerians.