The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal commenced hearings on May 9, 2023, with a promise to ensure justice for all parties involved. The Action Peoples Party (APP) and the Labour Party filed their petitions, challenging the declaration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the winner of the February 25 presidential election. The APP is the only petitioner in the petition marked CA/ABJ/PEPC/02/2022, citing irregularities, including alleged mutilation of election results, voter inducement, and monumental vote buying.
The APP also accuses the APC of corrupt practices and states that Tinubu was not qualified to run for the election. The LP and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, are also contesting the election’s outcome, citing non-compliance with electoral laws and guidelines, as well as Tinubu’s alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking in the United States.
The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Haruna Tsamani, has warned parties to shun sensational comments that could inflame passions in the country. He also assured parties that justice would be served and urged counsels to cooperate to ensure that the petitions are decided promptly.
The respondents’ counsels, Wole Olanipekun, Lateef Fagbemi, and Abubakar Mahmoud, have filed their answers to the pre-hearing questions of the court. Olanipekun informed the court that his client had filed his answers on May 3, 2023, and listed the application subject to the preliminary objection in the reply.
In conclusion, the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal has pledged to ensure justice and avoid miscarriage of justice in the petitions filed by the APP and the Labour Party challenging the February 25 presidential election’s outcome. The parties involved must cooperate with the tribunal to ensure that the petitions are decided promptly.