JUST IN: Battle to nullify Tinubu's presidential election victory begins at tribunal

The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) began sitting amidst tight security on Monday to hear petitions filed against the victory of Bola Tinubu of All Progressives Congress, APC in the February 25 presidential election.

The PEPC on Monday said it will begin its activies with a pre-hearing session of three of the petitions filed before it.

Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Peter Obi of Labour Party, LP, and the candidates of Action Alliance, AA, and Action Peoples Party, APP are challenging the declaration of Bola Tinubu of APC as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.

The five – member PEPC led by Justice Haruna Tsammani said it will conduct pre-hearing of petitions by Action Alliance (AA) marked: CA/PEPC/01/2023; Action Peoples Party (APP) marked: CA/PEPC/02/2023 and Peter Obi & Labour Party (LP) marked: CA/PEPC/03/2023.

Justice Tsammani, said the other petitions by Allied Peoples Movement (APM) marked: CA/PEPC/04/2023, and Atiku Abubakar & the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) marked: CA/PEPC/05/2023 will be heard on Tuesday.

However, Justice Tsammani appealed to all all lawyers in the five petitions to keep to time and avoid time wasting to enable the cases to be determined within the allotted time.

Justice Tsammani, urged lawyers to the petitioners to avoid sensational comments.

He also said the court would not tolerate time wasting tactics and technicalities.

“As we commence hearing of the petitions, let us avoid making sensational comments. Let us consider the safety and interest of the country, that is paramount.

“We should avoid unnecessary time wasting applications and objections so that we can look at substance of the case rather than unnecessary technicalities.

“Let us corporate with each other so that every one will be satisfied that justice has been done.”

Also, Chris Uche (SAN) of PDP, Levy Uzoukwu (SAN) for LP and Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) for INEC assured the tribunals of their commitment to ensure quick resolution of the petition in the interest of justice.

Other members of the panel are Justice Stephen Adah (the PJ of Asaba division); Justice Monsurat O. Bolaji Yusuf (from Asaba division); Boloukuromo Moses Ugo (from Kano division) and Justice Abba Mohammed (from Ibadan division).