ABUJA, Nigeria – The Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, of Nigeria has taken a pivotal step in the political landscape of the nation by electing to consolidate three distinct petitions.
These appeals were filed by Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and the Allied Peoples Movement, APM.
The five-member panel of the court, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, ordered the consolidation as part of a pre-hearing report issued on Tuesday, May 23, 2023.
This move comes as a potentially decisive moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey, as political parties fight for their perceived rightful places in the government.
The court announced that it has set a date for the hearing of the petition filed by Obi and the LP.
“The commencement of hearing in the petition by Obi and the LP will be on May 30, 2023,” declared Justice Tsammani.
court further detailed that the petitioners will have a strict three-week schedule to present their case.
In a meticulous timetable provided by the court, the petitioners are expected to call their planned 50 witnesses beginning from May 30, 2023.
The court instructed that the petitioners’ case should close by June 23, 2023.
“This is a period of democratic examination for all parties involved,” said Justice Tsammani, underlining the importance of due diligence and timely proceedings.
The PEPC stated that the trial of the petition will conclude on August 5, 2023, when lawyers for the parties involved will present their final written addresses.
Following this pivotal event, a date will be set for the judgment.
With the consolidation of these petitions, the court is providing an avenue for the legal addressal of the concerns and grievances of these political entities.
The outcomes of these cases are awaited with bated breath, as they could potentially reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.
Critics, however, have expressed concern over whether the consolidation of these petitions will allow for each case’s nuances to be thoroughly explored.
The upcoming trial dates and subsequent judgment promise to be a closely-watched period for all invested in the democratic stability and future of Nigeria.
