By Abimbola Ogunnaike
The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has adjourned pre-hearing in the petitions filed by Mr Peter Obi and his Labour Party until Wednesday, 17 May, 2023.
The panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned after parties agreed on time to exchange processes and responses.
Tsammani said parties have agreed that the matter be adjourned, saying that “On that note, the petition is further adjourned until May 17 for parties to exchange processes and responses.
He commended them for their unanimous agreement to hasten the process .
The respondents are: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sen. Ahmed Tinubu, Sen. Kashim Shettima and All Progressives Congress (APC).
Earlier, counsel for the petitioners, Dr Levi Uzoukwu, SAN, informed the court that parties in the matter have agreed that since there are some numbers of processes to file that the matter be adjourned until Wednesday.
This, he said, will enable exchange of the processes and responses.
The senior counsel also informed the court that before that day, parties would meet to take a look and agree on what to be tendered.
Responding, Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, counsel for INEC agreed with the senior counsel.
Similarly, Wole Olanipakun, SAN, Counsel for 2nd and 3rd respondents, Sen. Ahmed Tinubu and Sen. Kashim Shettima also agreed to the submissions.
“We agreed to exchange applications and replies between Monday and Tuesday so that by Wednesday, all the processes will be ready for adoption”.
The All Progressives Congress (APC ) 4th respondent’s counsel, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, also confirmed their agreement.
He said they all have anonymously agreed that the procedures will follow subject to the court approval because they believed it would hasten the proceedings.
Recall that Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu had declared Tinubu winner of the Feb. 25 presidential election after securing majority of votes cast at the poll.
Yakubu said Tinubu met the constitutional benchmark of scoring 25% in two thirds of 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory according to INEC.
Disagreeing with the outcome of the result, Obi and his party, LP filed a petition challenging the victory.
