The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has ordered the Presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP) Mr. Peter Gregory Obi and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, to present a joint petition against Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s February 25 presidential election victory, within three weeks.
On Obi and LP petitions, the court ordered the Respondents, Bola Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to defend the petition against them within five days.
On the part of Respondents in Atiku’s petition, the 1st Respondent (INEC) has two days to present its defense, 2nd Respondent (Tinubu) has five days, while 3rd Respondent (APC) also has five days to present its defence.
The five-man panel of the court led by its Chairman, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani issued the order on Tuesday, adding that it arrived at the decision because of the limited time within which the petition must be disposed of.
Further breakdown ordered that the Petitioners to present their matter from 30the May to June 23rd. INEC has two days, from 21st June to June 28 to present their defense, Tinubu has five days, from June 29 to July 6, while APC has five days, from July seven to July 16.
Concluding, the court held that all pieces of evidence will be closed by July 16.
Shortly after the order of the Court was handed down, Obi who was in court to witness the proceedings took permission from the court and left on the ground that they were going to prepare for the full-blown hearing of the petition.
Meanwhile, the Court discountenanced Tinubu and APC’s objection for the consolidation of the applications.
Consequently, the Court ordered the consolidation of the petitions so as to ensure an expeditious hearing.
