Election Tribunal: Official Hearing Date Confirmed as Atiku, Peter Obi Set to Challenge Tinubu’s Victory
- Finally, the date for the much-talked-about presidential election petition tribunal has been announced
- The legal teams of the APC, PDP and Labour Party have confirmed Monday, May 8, for the resumption of the election tribunal
- The opposition camps (PDP and LP) have expressed optimism that justice will be served accordingly if there is strict adherence to the Electoral Act
FCT, Abuja - The much anticipated presidential election petition tribunal is set to take centre stage in a few days following the confirmation of the official date of commencement.
As reported by the Punch, the presidential election petition tribunal has been slated for Monday, May 8, as candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour Party challenge the victory of Nigeria's president-elect and flagbearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Source: Facebook
Confirming the tribunal start date on Tuesday, May 2, the national legal adviser to the APC, Ahmad El-Marzuq, disclosed that a brief had been brought before his table, and they are ready to commence the hearing.
El-Marzuq said:
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“We have been briefed about the hearing coming up next week."
When asked if the tribunal will come to a close before May 29 presidential inauguration, El-Marzuq said:
"But who told you the election petitions at the tribunal must necessarily be concluded before May 29?
“Are you saying if they were not concluded before President Buhari leaves office, the government should be left in a vacuum, and the president-elect should not be sworn in? It is not a must."
Also confirming the development, a member of Tinubu's legal team, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), said:
"Yes, the hearing is on Monday, but it’s for a pre-hearing session. The hearing is to clarify if there are any applications before the main hearing will start. The timetable will be set for the hearing of the substantive matters.”
Atiku's legal team confident in justice system
Meanwhile, Mike Ozekhome, a member of Atiku's legal team who also confirmed the commencement date for the tribunal, said they are confident that the jury will administer a fair verdict.
He stated that the party and his client had enough substantial evidence to retrieve his mandate.
Ozekhome said:
“We are hopeful that justice shall be served without the tribunal listening to the blaring sirens of power, or being swayed by officialdom or government jack-bootism.”
Tribunal: Labour Party wants strict adherence to Electoral Act
On the other hand, the Labour Party said the tribunal has the obligation and responsibility to administer justice in line with the statutory stipulations of the Electoral Act.
Yunusa Tanko, the spokesperson of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, said:
“I think they should (be able to conclude it). The Electoral Act was very clear in stating that all cases must have finished before the handing over. So let’s see what they are going to do."
Presidential Election Tribunal: Falana, others explain what live broadcast could do to Nigeria's judiciary
In another development, Femi Falana said a live broadcast of the Presidential Election Tribunal would benefit the nation and the judiciary.
Senior lawyers have advised the Nigerian judiciary to consider calls made by many Nigerians for the PET to be televised in real-time.
Falana said providing public access to the proceedings would meet the aspirations of the public to participate in the process.
Source: Legit.ng
