Obi demands televised proceedings as tribunal adjourns hearing of his petition

The presidential election petitions court has adjourned the petition filed by Peter Obi,  candidate of the Labour Party (LP), for further pre-hearing.

The court had previously adjourned the case to Wednesday for continuation of the pre-hearing which commenced on Monday.

On Wednesday, Livy Ozoukwu, counsel to the petitioners (Obi and LP) told the court that parties in the suit have agreed to seek for an adjournment to enable them to file and exchange processes.

Ozoukwu added that parties have also agreed to meet and decide on the documents that are not in contention and the ones that are controversial. He prayed the court to adjourn the case to May 17.

All other counsel in the suit consented to the adjournment.

Consequently, the five-member panel of justices led by Haruna Tsammani granted the application.

Meanwhile, speaking to journalists shortly after the court session, Ozoukwu said he has filed a motion before the court seeking to have the proceeding televised.

“We are asking that the honourable court should allow live streaming or broadcasting of the proceedings of the court from day to day,” he said.

Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has also filed a motion asking the court to televise its proceedings.

Obi and the LP filed a petition challenging the victory of Bola Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC),  in the election.

In the petition marked CA/PEPC/03/2023, LP and Obi, said Tinubu “was not duly elected by the majority of the lawful votes cast at the time of the election”.

Amongst other allegations, they claimed that Kashim Shettima, vice-president-elect, had a double nomination in contravention of the electoral act.

The petitioners are asking the tribunal to declare Obi the winner of the presidential poll or alternatively, order the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election.