Presidential candidate in the February 25 election, Atiku Abubakar has supported the move by tribunal to merge all petitions together challenging the return of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as a winner of the election.

The presidential election tribunal led by Justice Haruna Tsammani had said it was empowered by Paragraph 50 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, to merge all the petitions and determine them together.

At Monday’s proceedings, Atiku, who was represented by Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, said his client and the Peoples Democratic Party were satisfied with the decision of the court.

He maintained that the monumental importance of the petitions was the reason they deserve a speedy hearing.

Atiku argued that it is natural and appropriate for the Court to do everything within its power and the law to bring justice to the parties.

On his part, Tinubu, through his lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun opposed the move to consolidate the three different petitions that are seeking to nullify the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

He maintained that merging all the petitions would adversely affect his ability to effectively defend all the issues that were raised against him by the petitioners.

“My lords, the issue of justice should be a restraint on the power of this court to exercise its discretion in granting the order for consolidation,” he stated.

However, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC represented by Chief Kemi Pinheiro, SAN said it would abide by the decision of the Court.

But, Jegede asked the Court to disregard the objections by Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress, APC, adding that their motive was to delay the hearing of the petitions against natural justice.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Court, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani has fixed May 23 for ruling in the matter.