Presidential Election Petition Tribunal: Proceedings Stalled Again

Proceedings at the Presidential Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja was again stalled on Monday on account of issues relating to the eight pending applications which the Tribunal must resolve before the hearing of the substantive petition can start.

Presiding Justice Ayo Isa Salami directed parties to harmonise their positions with a view to reducing the length of time which would be required to deal with the pending applications so as clear all encumbrances working against the speedy hearing of the petition filed by the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, challenging Goodluck Jonathan and Namadi Sambo as winners of the last presidential election.

Hours later when the tribunal resumed, counsel representing the parties in the petition, informed the court that they are yet to conclude with the ratification and harmonisation of their pending applications and sought for time to enable them present a harmonised document before the tribunal.

Counsel to CPC, Mr. Ebun Fashunde, a senior advocate of Nigeria, told the tribunal that they have reached a certain point in agreeing on how to resolve the issue of pending applications but that more time is still required by parties to be able to tell the court how far they have reached in resolving the matter.

He solicited for the matter to be adjourned till Tuesday by 10 am within which time he was certain that much progress would have been made on the matter.

Other counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo and Chief Joe Kyari–Gadzama, all senior advocates of Nigeria, representing Goodluck Jonathan/ Namadi Sambo, Independent National Electoral Commission/ Prof Attahiru Jega and Peoples Democratic Party respectively, all confirmed the position of the CPC counsel and urged the court to adjourn proceedings in the matter till Tuesday.

Justice Salami, after conferring with 4 other members of the panel, acquiesced to their request and adjourned the matter till Tuesday at 10 am.
By Nnamdi Felix / Abuja