Presidential election tribunal to commence hearing on May 8

The presidential election petitions court has fixed Monday, May 8  for the hearing of the petitions challenging Bola Tinubu’s emergence as the president-elect.

According to Tinubu’s legal team, Monday’s hearing is a pre-hearing session. The session will settle pending applications after which a timetable will be set for hearing of the substantive matters.

Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was declared winner of the February 25 presidential poll with 8,794,726 votes. 

Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), polled 6,984,520 votes while Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), came third with 6,101,533 votes.

Atiku and Obi have both filed separate petitions challenging the outcome of the presidential election.

Both candidates and their parties are alleging that Tinubu was not qualified to contest the election.

They are also contesting that the president-elect failed to get the majority of lawful votes cast at the poll.

The candidates further contend that Kashim Shettima, vice president-elect, had a double nomination contrary to the electoral act.

Some other political parties have also filed petitions against the presidential election.

Processes have been exchanged and replies have been filed by petitioners and respondents including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The tribunal stopped receiving replies from the petitioners on April 23.