Justice Haruna Tsammani-led presidential tribunal has again urged all parties involved in the ongoing petitions not to waste time. Consequently, t
Justice Haruna Tsammani-led presidential tribunal has again urged all parties involved in the ongoing petitions not to waste time.
Consequently, the judge said Paragraph 50 of the Electoral Act empowers the court to merge all the petitions and determine them together.
At its resumed proceedings on Saturday, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, who is the lead counsel for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, pleaded the court for time to consult his client.
“My lords, we will not say that we have not looked at it, but perhaps it may require consultation with the other petitioners.
“We, therefore, ask for a stand down or an adjournment so that we can explore the modalities since this is like a marriage which is a union between two consenting adults,” Uche, SAN, stated.
On its part, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, threw its weight behind the planned consolidation of the petitions.
However, Mr. Roland Otaru, SAN, who appeared on behalf of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the Vice President-elect, Senator Kashim Shettima, said he would need time to consult.
Then, Justice Tsammani-led member panel subsequently adjourned till Monday for the parties to report the outcome of their consultations on the issue of consolidation of all the petitions.
COMMENTS