• APP withdraws suit, Obi backs Atiku’s request for live broadcast
The Presidential Election Petition Court has adjourned to May 17, Peter Obi’s suit challenging the victory of President-elect, Bola Tinubu, in the February 25 poll.
The court, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, adjourned, following unanimous agreement by parties in the suit, marked: CA/PEPC/PC/03/2023.
At the resumed sitting, yesterday, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, the lead counsel for Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, requested the adjournment, to allow the parties file all pending motions and exchange processes.
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Uzoukwu informed the court that parties involved in the matter had jointly agreed to request adjournment, to enable them identify and take decision on documents in contention.
Obi’s lead lawyer held that the adjournment would also hasten proceedings when all documents are properly harmonised and exchanged.
Also, Action Peoples Party (APP) withdrew its petition challenging Tinubu’s victory.
The respondents in the petition, marked: CA/PEPC/02/2023, are Tinubu, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Independent National Electoral Commission.
At the resumed sitting, yesterday, counsel to the APP, Obed Agu, brought the motion for withdrawal.
He said the application was brought pursuant to paragraphs 29 (1) (2) (3) and four of the schedule for election petition, filed on March 19, 2023.
Agu, accordingly, requested the court to strike out the suit.
Responding to the motion for withdrawal, counsel to Tinubu, APC and INEC – Wole Olanipekun, Lateef Fagbemi and Abubakar Mahmoud – did not oppose the application.
The APC counsel described the decision to withdraw as welcome, urging others to join, while the window is still open.
Meanwhile, following a no-objection stance by all the respondents in the matter, Tsammani led the five-member panel to dismiss the petition.
No cost was awarded.
Meanwhile, LP and Obi have thrown their weight behind request by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, for live broadcast of proceedings.
Uzoukwu made this known while speaking with journalists, after the court adjourned.
He said it is important to have proceedings transmitted live, so that Nigerians would have firsthand information on what goes on at the court and have their doubts cleared.
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