The Presidential Election Petition Court has reconvened to hear the petitions filed by the Labour Party and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the recent presidential election.
The courtroom was filled with anticipation as the Labour Party's presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and party members gathered to witness the proceedings. Lawyers specializing in electoral law were present to represent the parties involved.
Panel of Justices and the First Case:
As the five-month panel of justices arrived, they wasted no time and called the first case for the day. The Labour Party presented their petition, requesting proof that they had served the resident electoral commissioners in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with summons to provide electoral documents. The court emphasized the importance of following the proper legal procedures and demanded that the party explore Section 74 of the Electoral Act.
Failure to Lodge Complaint and Apply Penalty Clause:
During the proceedings, the court noted that the Labour Party had not lodged a complaint regarding the delay in receiving the requested documents from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Furthermore, they failed to apply the penalty clause stipulated in Section 74, which requires parties to provide requested documents within 14 days or face a penalty of 2 million naira or imprisonment, or both.
Cross-Examination and Technical Glitches:
Under cross-examination, a witness for the Labour Party, Clarissa Olga, admitted that technical glitches can occur while using the Amazon software, which was relevant to the case. The court took note of her testimony and adjourned the proceedings to reconvene later in the day.
PDP's Decision to Close the Case:
In a separate development, the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku, and his party informed the court that they would be closing their case challenging the declaration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the presidential election. The lead counsel, Chris Uche, requested additional days due to time lost, and the court granted their request.
Witnesses and Remaining Proceedings:
The petitioners have so far called 25 witnesses out of the proposed 100. To reach a round figure of 30 witnesses, the PDP's council stated that some of the remaining documents to be presented would replace the testimony of the remaining 17 witnesses. The panel of justices, led by Justice Harness Amani, adjourned the hearing until Wednesday, June 21, for the continuation of the petitions.
Above All
The Presidential Election Petition Court's resumed sitting has shed light on the legal challenges faced by the Labour Party and the PDP in their attempts to contest the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the presidential election. As the proceedings unfold, the court continues to stress the importance of following proper legal procedures and adhering to the Electoral Act. The final outcome of the petitions remains to be seen, and further developments are anticipated in the coming days.
Comments
0 comment