Election Petition; Court To Consolidate All Petitions Againt President-Elect

The Presidential Election Petition Court, sitting in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital has indicated the intention to put together the three different petitions challenging the outcome of the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria.

At a resumed pre-hearing on Saturday, the court said that it was empowered by the Electoral Act, to merge all the petitions and determine them together.

The lead counsel to People’s Democratic Party PDP Presidential candidate, Mr. Chris Uche, SAN,  pleaded the court for time to consult his client Atiku Abubakar and the PDP.

He said, “we, ask for a stand down or an adjournment so that we can explore the modalities since it is like a marriage which is a union between two consenting adults.

Counsel to, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud threw his weight behind the planned consolidation of the petitions by the Presidential Election Petition Court.

He said, “we are happy with the provision of the law and we are also happy with whatever position your lordships will take with respect to this matter.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Roland Otaru, SAN, who appeared on behalf of the President-elect, Ahmed Tinubu and the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, asked for said time to consult.

Outcome of their consultations

The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel subsequently adjourned till Monday for the parties to report the outcome of their consultations on the issue of consolidation of all the petitions.

The electoral umpire INEC had on March 1, declared Tinubu winner of the Presidential elections with  8,794,726 votes to defeat the two major contenders, Atiku of the PDP, who came second with a total of 6,984,520 votes and Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, who came third with a total of 6,101,533 votes.

Lateefah Ibrahim