The February 25 presidential election has been challenged by five political parties and their respective candidates on the basis of non-compliance with both the electoral laws and the guidelines set forth by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
As the Presidential Petition Court begins preparing today, the name of the justices who will be presiding over the petition are Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Haruna Tsammani, Justice Stephen Adah of the Court of Appeal Asaba division, Justice Misitura Bolaji-Yusuf, Court of Appeal also of Asaba Division, Justice Boloukuoromo Ugoh of Kano division, Justice Abba Mohammed of Ibadan Court of Appeal.
A five-judge panel led by PEPC Presiding Justice Haruna Tsammani assured the parties before the court adjourned that they would be treated fairly.
Justice Tsammani said, “We are determined to look at the matter dispassionately and give justice to whoever deserves justice.”
He said they would consider the substance of each case over technicalities so that ” whoever leaves here will be satisfied that justice has been done.”
He cautioned the parties to avoid filing frivolous applications that would only serve to prolong the process.
The presiding judge also revealed that just the first three petitions would be heard during the pre-hearing today, while the fourth and fifth petitions “can take off tomorrow.”
They are marked CA/PEPC/01/2023 by the Action Alliance party and its standard bearer Solomon Okanigbuan; CA/PEPC/02/2023 filed by the Action People’s Party as the sole petitioner; and CA/PEP/03/2023 by the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
He said the cases will be alternated until the pre-hearing comes to an end.
”Then we will alternate until we finish the pre-hearing,” he added.
The court will resume sitting by 10:30 am.
