INEC Prepares Response To Atiku’s Live Broadcast Request

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it would file a response to an application by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar seeking a live broadcast of the presidential election petition tribunal.

News Direct reports that Atiku, who is challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential poll, had said televising the proceedings would enhance public confidence in the judiciary.

At the pre-hearing session on Thursday, counsel to INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud said the commission would file its response to the application between Monday and Tuesday next week.

Earlier, counsel to Atiku and the PDP, Chris Uche told the court that parties in the suit have met and harmonised issues for determination.

Uche said, “The first item resolved by the various counsel are documents. On this, we agreed and set up a team to look at the documents and agreed to eliminate objections while tendering from the bar during the hearing.

“We intend to do that between Monday and Tuesday and then prepare a schedule of documents to facilitate the hearing.

“The second is the issues for trial. For the petitioners, we have filed ours today and served all the parties subject to any modifications by the honourable court.

“Lastly, with respect to motions pending before the court, we have just one motion filed on May 7. That is the motion on televising the petition. We are yet to receive the responses of the other counsel.”

He added that he has been served with four motions — two from the 1st respondent and two from the 3rd respondent.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said he has reacted to one and is preparing the other responses.

He thereafter prayed the court to adjourn the matter to next Thursday as agreed by all the parties.

The tribunal consequently adjourned the pre-hearing to May 18.