The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has concluded the pre-hearing stage for all three petitions filed against President-elect Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), emerged as the winner of the February 25 election with 8,794,726 votes.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as well as Peter Obi, the Labour Party (LP) candidate, are challenging Tinubu’s victory.
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has also filed a petition contesting Tinubu’s election.
During the court session on Tuesday, the five-member panel consolidated all the petitions due to the time-bound nature of the case. The court issued a trial schedule to expedite the resolution of the petitions.
According to the Electoral Act, the tribunal has 180 days to determine the petitions, and all activities are expected to be concluded by September 16, 2023.
In the petition filed by Peter Obi and the Labour Party, a total of 83 witnesses will be called by both the petitioners and the respondents. The court ruled that the petitioners must present their case within three weeks, from May 30 to June 23, and there will be no oral examination of witnesses. Instead, the witnesses will adopt their written witness statements on oath. The court also set time limits for examination in chief, cross-examination, and re-examination of witnesses.
Similarly, the PDP and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, were directed to prove their case against Tinubu within three weeks. The court allowed for the adoption of written witness statements on oath and set time limits for examination in chief and cross-examination. The presentation of cases by INEC, Tinubu, and the APC will follow.
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM), INEC, and the other respondents also have witnesses who will adopt their written depositions on oath. The court set time limits for examination in chief, cross-examination, and re-examination. Each respondent has a specific number of days to present their case, and the petitioners are expected to start presenting their cases on May 30.
In conclusion, the pre-hearing stage of the presidential election petition has been completed, and the court has set a trial schedule for each petition. The parties involved will have the opportunity to present their cases and call witnesses within the specified time limits. The court’s decision on these petitions will play a significant role in determining the outcome of the election and its impact on the country’s political landscape.