The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in Abuja on Monday called on the lawyers representing all the petitioners to avoid unnecessary technicalities and address the merits of their cases.
The five-member panel headed by Haruna Tsammani had this to say at the panel’s opening session.
He Nigerian News Agency, (NAN) reports that the panel began meeting on Monday to hear petitions filed by aggrieved presidential candidates challenging the victory of Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the disputed 2023 presidential election.
NAN also reports that other members of the panel are Stephen Adah, Misitura Bolaji-Yusuf, Boloukuoromo Ugo and Abbah Mohammed.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Tsammani urged lawyers not to get involved in unnecessary technicalities, as they could cause delays in the expeditious hearing of the petitions.
“The election has a time limit, let’s not waste unnecessary time, let’s cooperate with each other so that everyone leaves satisfied.
“Avoiding unnecessary technicalities, we are determined to analyze all the issues that come before us.
“Let’s look at what is good for our country and avoid requests that waste our time,” he said.
He said there were five petitions and the first three would be heard on Monday, while the last two would be heard on Tuesday.
In response, Wole Olanipekun, a senior lawyer from Nigeria, said that as lawyers, they were bound by law and would strictly adhere to the rule of law throughout the process.
Mr. Olanipekun assured that the lawyers would give their full support to the cause.
Other high-level advocates also agreed with Mr. Olanipekun.
NAN also reports that shortly after the judges took a post-opening recess to prepare to hear the petitions, Labor Party presidential candidate Peter Obi entered the courtroom and exchanged pleasantries with lawyers and litigants in court. .
NAN recalls that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, had declared Tinubu the winner of the February 25 presidential election.
Dissatisfied with the announcement, candidates from the Labor Party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and others filed their petitions to challenge the victory of APC and Tinubu.
Members of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPC) would adjudicate all petitions filed against Mr. Tinubu and the APC’s declaration as winners of the disputed 2023 presidential election. (YAYA)