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LP candidate Peter Obi, who filed the petition challenging the outcome of the presidential election, has postponed further proceedings before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPC) in Abuja. The adjournment, agreed upon by all parties involved, sets the next hearing date for May 17.
The respondents named in the petition are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President-elect Bola Tinubu, Vice-President-elect Kashim Shettima, and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
During the court session, Obi and the LP informed the court that they had mutually requested an adjournment to allow for the filing and exchange of necessary legal documents. They highlighted the many processes and motions that still needed to be submitted.
Counsel to Obi, Uzoukwu, emphasized that the adjournment would facilitate an expeditious hearing and resolution of the case. INEC, represented by lawyer A. B. Mahmood (SAN), confirmed the parties’ agreement for an adjournment after a brief meeting. Similarly, counsels for Tinubu and Shettima, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), and the APC, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), respectively, expressed their belief that the adjournment would expedite the proceedings.
Following the parties’ submissions, the five-member panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani granted the request for adjournment. The court instructed the parties to identify the core issues to be determined in the petition and then adjourned the session to continue the pre-hearing process.
In his petition, Obi specifically requested the court to declare that Tinubu was not duly elected based on most lawful votes cast in the election. Obi’s grounds for challenging Tinubu’s eligibility included the claim that Tinubu was not qualified to contest at the time of the election and he had a previous conviction in the United States.
The petitioners also argued the election was invalid due to corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act of 2022, asserting INEC had violated its own regulations and guidelines.
As prayers, the petitioners asked the court to rule not only that Tinubu was unqualified to contest the election but also that all votes cast for him should be wasted because of his non-qualification. They further requested the court to declare Obi as the winner of the presidential election based on the remaining valid votes.
Alternatively, the petitioners sought an order to cancel the election and compel INEC to conduct a fresh election excluding Tinubu, Shettima, and the APC. They also requested the court to invalidate Tinubu’s return as the winner of the presidential election, declaring it unlawful and unconstitutional.
To support another petition seeking to invalidate Tinubu’s victory, Obi expressed his endorsement of the request made by Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the People’s Democratic To support (PDP), for live coverage of the proceedings on a day-to-day basis.
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Source: Omanghana.com
