The Presidential Election Petition Court sitting in Abuja, has adjourned until the 10th of May, for continuation of the pre-hearing session of petitions filed by the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, challenging the victory of the president elect, Bola Tinubu at the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
Also adjourned to the same date was the petition by the Action Peoples Party APP, against Tinubu, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The adjournment was at the instance of the panel, following the filing and adoption of pre hearing processes by various counsel for the petitioners.
Similarly, the Court heard the petition filed by the Labour Party and its Presidential candidate Peter Obi against INEC, President-elect Bola Tinubu, his Vice Kashim Shetima and the APC.
Lead counsel to the petitioners, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu informed the court that he had equally answered his questions and filed accordingly as contained in the pre hearing Form on the 22nd of April 2023.
After listening to the parties, Chairman of the Panel of Justices, Justice Haruna Tsammani therefore adjourned hearing until Wednesday, this week.
All parties are challenging the outcome of the February 25, 2023 Presidential Elections that produced Bola Tinubu as the President-Elect.
Judges unveiled
Haruna Tsamani is leading the five-member panel of Justices
Other members of the panel are Justice Stephen Adah, who is the presiding Justice of the Asaba Division of the Court of Appeal, Justice Misturat Bolaji-Yusuf, Justice Boloukuromo Ugo and Justice Abba Mohammed.
Justice Tsamani, in his opening remarks said the Court should be addressed as the Presidential Election Petition Court and not a “Tribunal“ and warned against sensational statements for the safety of the country.
He stated that the court had five applications pending, but only three of them will be heard today, Monday.
- Action Alliance has filed an application against INEC, APC, Bola Tinubu, and Hamza El Mustapha.
- The second application is by the Action Peoples Party, or APP, against Bola Tinubu, the APC, and INEC.
- While the third is by Peter Obi and others against INEC, Bola Tinubu, Kashim Shetiima, and the APC.
- The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and it’s Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, would be heard tomorrow.
Chief Wole Olanipekun, the lead counsel representing APC, pledged to extend his full support to the Court’s efforts in expediting the hearing of the petitions.
Chief Chris Uche, the lead counsel to Atiku and the PDP, also expressed his agreement with Olanipekun’s stance.
Mr. Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, who serves as the Lead Counsel for Peter Obi and the Labour Party, has pledged his team’s support to facilitate a smooth resolution of the petitions in court.
Mr. Peter Obi and Mr. Julius Abure, the factional National Chairman of the Labour Party, were present alongside the governor of Plateau state, Simon Lalong representing the APC and a representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Reporting by Ifeoma Nwovu; Editing by Julian Osamoto