Peter Obi, Atiku, others gang against Tinubu as presidential election petition tribunal begins hearing: Live Updates

Today, Monday, May 8, the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja is set to commence pre-hearing for the petitions that contest the results of the February 25th presidential election.

This event holds significant importance as it could potentially shape the outcome of the election dispute.

The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja commences pre-hearing.
Photo credits: KOLA SULAIMON/AFP, PATRICK MEINHARDT/AFP, PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP
Source: Getty ImagesStay tuned for Legit.ng’s updates on the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal proceedings.

It’s a wrapToday’s live coverage of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja has concluded. The tribunal is set to resume on Tuesday, May 9.

The petitions to be heard tomorrow are by:

Allied Peoples Movement (APM) marked: CA/PEPC/04/2023Atiku Abubakar & the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) marked: CA/PEPC/05/2023 Be sure to tune in tomorrow for our live coverage of the proceedings.

We leave you with some photos from the tribunal today.

Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Begins Hearing: LIVE UPDATES
Source: OriginalPresidential Election Petition Tribunal Begins Hearing: LIVE UPDATES
Source: OriginalPresidential Election Petition Tribunal Begins Hearing: LIVE UPDATES
Source: OriginalPresidential Election Petition Tribunal Begins Hearing: LIVE UPDATES
Source: OriginalPresidential Election Petition Tribunal Begins Hearing: LIVE UPDATES
Source: OriginalTribunal adjourns Peter Obi, Labour Party’s petition against Tinubu to May 10The tribunal fixes May 10 for pre-hearing in the petition of the Labour Party (LP) and Peter Obi challenging Tinubu’s victory.

Tribunal adjourns APP’s petition against TinubuThe tribunal fixes May 10 for pre-hearing in the petition of the Action Peoples Party (APP) challenging the February 25 presidential election.

APP and its presidential candidate, Simon Nnadi, are asking the tribunal to disqualify Tinubu over his alleged non-qualification to contest the election.

They also argued that INEC failed to comply with the provision of the Electoral Act, 2023 by non-transmission of results, which robbed them of their victory in the election, adding that the election was marred by corrupt practices with the election results compromised in nine states.

Also, they contended that the APC and Tinubu did not score the majority of lawful votes cast in the election, including the mandatory 25 per cent of the votes in the FCT.

Earlier, counsel to APP, Obed Agu, said he has filed a pre-hearing application for the APC and Tinubu to concede the election before the matter because of the weight of evidence at APP’s disposal showing Tinubu didn’t win the election.

But lawyers to APC and Tinubu, Lateef Fagbemi and Wole Olanipekun, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria, informed the tribunal that they will deal with the issues at the right time.

Summary of Peter Obi’s petitionThe petition, jointly filed by Peter Obi and his party, has INEC, Tinubu, Shettima Kashim, and the APC as the respondents.

Prayer 1: 25% votes in FCTObi and LP want the tribunal to determine “that the 2nd Respondent (Tinubu) having failed to score one-quarter of the votes cast at the Presidential Election in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja was not entitled to be declared and returned as the winner of the presidential election held on 25 February 2023”.

Prayer 2: Cancellation of ElectionObi and his party also prayed to the court to order the cancellation of the February 25 presidential election.

They added that: “the Presidential election conducted on 25th February 2023 is void on the ground that the election was not conducted substantially in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended”.

Prayer 3: Fresh electionIn addition to the election cancellation, the LP candidate asked the court to compel INEC to conduct a fresh election.

Prayer 4: Shettima’s eligibilityObi also prayed the tribunal to make an order that will disqualify Tinubu and his running mate, Shettima from the fresh election.

He said, “the nomination of Kashim Shettima as vice presidential candidate was defective as he did not withdraw from his nomination as a senatorial candidate of his party before accepting to serve as vice presidential candidate of Mr Tinubu”.

Prayer 5: Tinubu’s EligibilityThe petitioners argue that Tinubu should not have been eligible to run for the office of the president due to his “ineligibility”.

They said the president-elect “was not duly elected by the majority of the lawful votes cast at the time of the election”.

Also, they claimed the APC candidate “was linked to drug trafficking by US court” leading to his eventual forfeiture of the sum of $460,000 to the American government, adding that Tinubu is “not qualified to contest Nigerian presidency”.

Peter Obi present at tribunalPeter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate, has arrived at the tribunal.

Presidential Election Petition Tribunal Begins Hearing: LIVE UPDATES
Source: OriginalAtiku, PDP want proceedings to be broadcast liveMeanwhile, it is important to note that Atiku and the PDP had approached the tribunal for an order allowing a live broadcast of the day-to-day proceedings of the court regarding his petition.

It is left to be seen whether the tribunal will grant the wishes of Atiku and his party.

Action Alliance withdraws petition against TinubuThe Action Alliance (AA) has withdrawn their petition against Tinubu. Get the details here.

Two other petitions to be heard on TuesdayJustice Tsammani also said the court has scheduled hearing on the other two petitions for Tuesday, May 9, the Nation reported.

The petitions are by:

Allied Peoples Movement (APM) marked: CA/PEPC/04/2023Atiku Abubakar & the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) marked: CA/PEPC/05/2023 Update: Only 3 petitions will be heard todayThe Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel has announced that it would commence its pre-hearing session today with three petitions.

They are the petitions by:

Action Alliance (AA) marked: CA/PEPC/01/2023; Action Peoples Party (APP) marked: CA/PEPC/02/2023 Peter Obi & Labour Party (LP) marked: CA/PEPC/03/2023.Lawyers for Atiku, Peter Obi and Tinubu reactIn their separate responses, counsels to the President-Elect, Wole Olanikpekun, and of Atiku Abubakar, Chris Uche, as well as Peter Obi’s lawyer, Livy Uzoukwu, assured the court of their full cooperation and support.

The presiding judge concluded that everyone would be satisfied with the verdict at the end of the case.

Pre-hearing resumes 9:15amThe court pre-hearing resumed at about 9:15 am with an opening remark by the Presiding Justice Haruna Tsammani, who leads a five-man panel of Justices.

Other members of the panel include Justice Stephen Adah, Justice Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf, Justice Boloukuoromo Moses Ugo and Justice Abbah Mohammed

Justice Tsammani maintained the panel would do justice to the case and advised the lawyers against making sensational comments.

He also asked for their cooperation since the case is time-bound, and they should be wary of bringing unnecessary applications that will waste the time of the court.

List, details of petitions slated for hearing todayFrom the Cause list, the unveiling of the tribunal, the first case to be adjudicated, is the Action Alliance (AA) and its Presidential Candidate in the election, Solomon David Okanigbuan notifying the tribunal of their intentions to withdraw their petition against the declaration of Tinubu as Nigeria’s President-elect after the unveiling of the tribunal.

Besides Tinubu, others listed as respondents in AA’s petition are the INEC, APC, and Hamza Al Mustapha.

Other petitions slated for the pre-hearing session are those of the Action People’s Party (APP), which has Tinubu, APC and INEC as three respondents.

It would be followed by that of Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP) marked CA/PEPC/03/2023 with INEC, Tinubu, Senator Kashim Shetima and APC as four respondents.

The Allied People’s Movement (APM) would proceed next against Tinubu.

Defendants in APM’s petition are INEC, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kashim Shetima and one Kabir Masari.

Atiku and the PDP marked CA/ PEPC/05/2023 would be treated last and has INEC, Tinubu and the APC as three respondents.

Security beefed up A report by Channels TV indicates that security has been beefed up as the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal Abuja begins the pre-hearing of the petition.

The media outfit said it observed that security around the court premises is almost impervious as men of the Nigerian Police Force cordoned off the road leading to the court.

Presidential election petition tribunal: Lawyers set for the proceedingsSome lawyers at the presidential election tribunal waiting for the start of proceedings.

Courtroom opens!The Chamber of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal is filled: Lawyers, journalists and other stakeholders are in the court as the hearing is set to commence on the 2023 presidential election petitions.

The venue of the tribunal is the Court of Appeal headquarters in Abuja.

Atiku, Peter Obi versus Tinubu: Lawyers hang around as courtroom for presidential tribunal remains shut, photos emergeEmerging reports indicate that the courtroom for the presidential election petition tribunal remains shut this morning.

Lawyers were seen hanging around the court premises.

Presidential Election Petition Tribunal: What to expect at today’s proceedingsAt the pre-hearing today, a senior lawyer in Tinubu’s camp told The Punch what is expected to happen.

The unnamed lawyer was quoted as saying:

“The only thing they will do is to schedule the hearing, the number of witnesses, how many minutes the witness will use, and how to admit the documents; that’s what they call pre-trial.“They are going to prepare a timetable for the hearing of the cases, the number of days to be spent by the petitioners, the number of days to be spent by the respondents, how do we take in the documents, certified true copy of the documents, are they going to be admitted like that or if there is an objection, how do we raise an objection to document?“Will the court write a ruling on objection immediately or will the court write it in the cause of the main judgment? Those are the things that will happen tomorrow (Monday).”Presidential election tribunal: List of candidates, parties that want court to sack Bola TinubuFive of Tinubu’s contenders are challenging the outcome of the polls in court.

1. Atiku Abubakar

2. Peter Obi

3. Action Peoples Party (APP)

4. All Peoples Movement (APM)

5. Action Alliance (AA)