Near the Court of Appeal in Abuja, protesters held banners saying Tinubu should not be sworn in before being moved by officers. The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has held its first session for the 2023 presidential election petitions.
A five-member panel of Justices of the Court of Appeal has been revealed to hear and determine the five petitions challenging Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s victory. The panel, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, includes Justice Stephen Adah, Justice Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf, Justice Boluokuromo Ugo, and Justice Abba Mohammed. Judge Haruna Simon Tsamani requested that lawyers avoid sensational comments during the defence of their clients in the courtroom.
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The president-elect’s counsel pledged full cooperation and a transparent approach, while the PDP presidential candidate’s lawyers vowed to aid the court in delivering a fair outcome. Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, represents the Labour Party and its candidate. The court will hear three petitions: AA’s against INEC, APP’s, and Obi/LP’s. The remaining petitions are APMs and Atiku/PDPs.
However, the presidential election petition tribunal will continue hearing cases challenging the 2023 election outcome on Wednesday, May 10. The adjournment was announced by a spokesperson for the Labour Party, Kenneth Okonkwo, in a tweet after a brief pre-hearing trial today.
Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi are calling for the annulment of the vote due to breaches of electoral law and irregularities. They claim that the electoral agency did not upload polling station results on electronic machines promptly, thus leaving the results open to manipulation. The President-elect’s lawyers, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, dismiss petitions stating they lack merit.
