ELECTION PETITION COURT CONSOLIDATES CASES AGAINST TINUBU
The Presidential Election Petition Court has ordered the consolidation of the three surviving petitions before it to ensure speedy hearing and determination of cases challenging the outcome of the Presidential Election.
This is contained in the pre-hearing report read by the Court marking the official end of the pre-hearing session, with 30 May now set for the start of actual hearing.
The Court says the consolidation of the the petitions of Allied People’s Movement (APM), Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP is in the interest of justice and as provided in paragraph 50 of the first schedule of the Electoral Act.
The Presidential Election Petition Court has given three weeks to the Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to prove his case against the outcome of the Presidential Election, this will span from 30th May to 23 June, 2023.
In order to ensure speedy hearing of the petition, there will be no oral examination of witnesses, as what will be required is the adoption of witness statements. For star (or expert) witness, 30 minutes shall be used for evidence in chief while 20 minutes will be for cross examination, and five minutes for re-examination.
The Presidential Election Petition Court also scheduled August 5 for for counsels of all parties in the Obi petition to adopt their addresses indicating an end of hearing, awaiting judgment.
According to the schedule, the Presidential Election Petition Court is expected to hold proceedings from Monday to Saturday each week until completion of hearing of the petition.
