The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja, has adjourned its sitting to Wednesday, May 10, 2023 for the continuation of pre-hearing proceedings on the petition the Labour Party and its candidate, Peter Obi filed to nullify the result of the February 25th presidential election as announced by INEC.
The court equally fixed the same date for another petition by the Action Peoples Party, APP, while it adjourned the case of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, till Tuesday..
Investogist had reported that the tribunal on Monday commenced the pre-hearing of the petitions challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election.
The court barred Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, who had presented himself as the representative of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu from doing so.
The Plateau state governor had, immediately the first petition that was lodged against the outcome of the 2023 presidential election was called up, stood up and announced himself as Tinubu’s representative.
“My Lord’s my name is Simon Lalong and I am here to represent Tinubu,” the governor stated.
However, Justice Haruna Tsammani led a five-member panel that declined to recognise him as Tinubu’s representative.
“You cannot represent an individual. Tinubu is not a corporation that would need a representative,” the presiding justice held.
The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared that Bola Tinubu polled 8,794,726 votes to win the election. While Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party came second with 6,984,520 votes, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party was third with 6,101,533 votes.
Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi had separately filed suits disputing the election outcome and seeking to overturn it.
At Monday’s hearing, the tribunal headed by Justice Haruna Tsammani assured all parties involved that justice will be served.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
