Presidential election: Tribunal to hear Labour Party’s petition May 17

The Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, has further adjourned pre-hearing in the petitions filed by Peter Obi and his Labour Party until May 17.

The panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned after the parties agreed on a time to exchange processes and responses.

Mr Tsammani said parties have agreed that the matter be adjourned.

“On that note, the petition is further adjourned until May 17 for parties to exchange processes and responses.

He commended them for their unanimous agreement to hasten the process.

The respondents are Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Bola Tinubu, Kashim Shettima and All Progressives Congress, APC.

Earlier, counsel for the petitioners, Dr Levi Uzoukwu, SAN, informed the court that parties in the matter have agreed that since there are some numbers of processes to file that the matter be adjourned until Wed.

This, he said, will enable the exchange of the processes and responses.

The senior counsel also informed the court that before that day, parties will meet to take a look and agree on what to be tendered.

Responding, Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, counsel for INEC agreed with the senior counsel.

Similarly, Wole Olanipakun, SAN Counsel for 2nd and 3rd respondents, Bola Tinubu and Sen Kashim Shettima also agreed to the submissions.

“We agreed to exchange applications and replies between Monday and Tuesday so that by Wednesday, all the processes will be ready for adoption.

The APC 4th respondent ‘s counsel,  Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, also confirmed their agreement.

He said they all have unanimously agreed that the procedures will follow subject to the court’s approval because they believed it would hasten the proceedings.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof.Mahmood Yakubu had declared Tinubu the winner of the Feb. 25 presidential election after securing a majority of votes cast at the poll.

He said Mr Tinubu met the constitutional benchmark of scoring 25% in two-thirds of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory according to INEC.

Disagreeing with the outcome of the result, Obi and his party,  LP filed a petition challenging the victory.

NAN