The Presidential Election Petition Court PEPC sitting at the Court of Appeal Abuja, Nigeria’s capital has adjourned pre – hearing of the petition by the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party Atiku Abubakar to May 18.
The presiding Judge, Justice Haruna Tsamani fixed the date after telling counsels for both parties to put their processes together.
At the resumed pre-hearing on Thursday, Atiku was present in court, accompanied by PDP officials and other political associates.
Atiku and his party are asking for the cancellation of the February 25, presidential election, claiming it was marred by electoral irregularities.
Counsel to Atiku and PDP Mr. Chris Uche SAN told the court that parties in the suit have met and harmonised issues for determination.
He said, “we are happy to report that to make for seamless progression of the pre-hearing session, counsel for the respective parties have met and put heads together to harmonise and streamline the vital areas and components of the pre-hearing conference.”
He added that, the parties intends to do that between Monday and Tuesday and then prepare a schedule of documents to facilitate the hearing.
“The second is the issues for trial. For the petitioners, we have filed ours today and served all the parties subject to modifications by the honourable court.
“Lastly with respect to motions pending before the court, we have just one motion filed on May 7. That is the motion on televising the petition. We are yet to receive the responses of the other counsel” Uche added.
He prayed the court to adjourn the matter to next Thursday as agreed by all the parties.
Counsels to Tinubu, INEC, and APC confirmed the agreement to the court.
Justice Haruna Tsamani thereafter adjourned the pre-hearing to Thursday May 18.
Meanwhile the petition by Allied Peoples Movement APM was also adjourned to May 18 for continuation after counsels agreed to have a meeting on Monday and Tuesday to harmonise their processes.
Emmanuel Ukoh
