The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal started off with that of the PDP vs Respondents.
After their session and the judges went on recess, the return was for, Peter Gregory Obi, Labour party and respondents.
Below are the step by step analysis of the Pre-hearing :
Next in line is Obi & LP v. INEC, Tinubu, Shettima & APC.
Right outside the courthouse: Nigerians gather to sing the National Anthem.
The Justices are back from break.
PO just introduced himself and said he’s representing LP too.
An emotional scene outside the courthouse today. Nigerians are asking the judiciary to do the right thing! Our votes must count. #tribunal #PEPT
Petitioners: Peter Obi & LP
1R (INEC)
2R (TINUBU)
3R (SHETTIMA)
4R (APC)
The 1R have several applications to move before the court…
1. AN APPLICATION… To strike out certain paragraphs of the Petition before the tribunal… And other applications which have been adopted.
Recap: Remember what happened in the previous last 2 hearings, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu SAN (Lead Counsel to LP & Obi), told the media that they will respond “robustly” to INEC’s request to strike off certain applications. They had 2 days to reply to INEC so it is expected that there will be a response from them to that effect.
READ ALSO : Tinubu Unfair to Me – Ganduje cries out
The Petitioners responded to the motion with counter affidavit and written address adopted urging the court to dismiss the motion. 2. The 1R also filed AN APPLICATION… To strike out Ground 2 of the Petition. (Ground 2 reads: That the election of the 2R was invalid by reason of corrupt practices or non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022). This was supported with affidavits and written address which as been adopted by the Counsel to the 1st Respondent.
LP & Obi’s counsel responded to INEC’s motion with a counter-affidavit and written statement. INEC also filed an application with affidavits asking the court to strike off LP & Obi’s petition Ground 2 that says the election of Tinubu & Shettima was invalid by reason of corrupt practices or non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022. Tinubu & Shettima’s team accepted this motion.
The Petitioners also responded to the 2nd motion with a counter affidavit and written address adopted urging the court to dismiss the motion (Application to strike out Ground 2).
READ ALSO : Inmates crown Seun Kuti ‘General Overseer’, as he leads prayer sessions
The motion argument continues: INEC: Motion filed on 19th April to strike out certain Paragraphs of the petition. Court: you have two applications on the 19th. INEC: The one to strike out paragraph 6… the application is supported by an affidavit of 4 paragraph deposed to by… Also a written Address filed on the same day and I seek your permission to adopt same. We also filed a Further Affidavit dated 7th May of 4 paragraphs. We filed reply on point of law Filed on 6th of May. – I adopt and rely on all and move. LP- Filed a reply, a Counter-affidavit of 4 paragraphs on 3rd May, 2023. Deposed to by Martins Akawe. Along with it is a written address filed on the same day. We adopt same and pray to dismiss the motion. Court: Ruling for these Processes are reserved to the Final Judgement. INEC: Second application is Filed on the 19th of April to strike out ground 2 of the petition. Supported by an Affidavit of 4 paragraphs deposed to by Victoria Soko. An exhibit attacked and also supported by a written address. There’s also a Further Affidavit (titled Reply Affidavit) filed on 7th of May. It has 4 paragraphs deposed to by Gift Nwadidi. – Reply on Points of law filed on 6th of May LP: Counter Affidavit of 4 paragraphs filed on 3rd of May, sworn to by Martins Luter Akawe. With a written address. I pray they are dismissed. Court: Ruling reserved for final judgment.
Mr. Peter Obi and Labour Party is gaining massive momentum and are on top of today’s Court Proceedings so far !!!
The 2ND AND 3RD RESPONDENTS notified the court that they had 3 APPLICATIONS before the court. 1. The 2&3R filed AN APPLICATION… To strike out and dismiss the petition for being incompetent. They also filed 2 LISTS OF ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES praying the court to rely on them… 4. The 1R also filed the fourth and last APPLICATION… To correct it’s (1st Respondent) List of Witnesses and include one Dr. Lawrence which it had inadvertently omitted from the list. The Petitioners responded to the motion.
READ ALSO : APC shamelessly hire “Almajiris kids” with Placards at Tribunal
The court observed that only ONE LIST OF ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES WAS FILED and the court confirms.
The Petitioners filed a Counter Affidavit to oppose the 2&3R Application to strike out and dismiss the petition. They urged the court to dismiss the application.
The dialogue in court: Tinubu & Shettima’s counsel: We filed a process on May 12th, 2023 along with an affidavit seeking to strike out or dismiss the entire petition. We also filed two lists of additional requests on May 17th and 19th. We pray your Lordships to rely on the the same. LP counsel: We opposed this application and filed a counter Affidavit of 4 paragraphs, deposed to by Martins Luter Akawe sworn to on 18th May, 2023 along with a written address in opposition urging your Lordships to dismiss the application. Court: Ruling is reserved.
The second motion filed by the 2&3R is AN APPLICATION… Praying the court to strike out the paragraphs of the petition listed in the motion.
In response, the Petitioners filed a Counter Affidavit, urging the court to dismiss the motion for being a class exercise in futility.
Lastly, the 2&3R filed AN APPLICATION For an order striking out the entire reply of the Pet. to the 2&3R reply. The Petitioners further responded by filing a Counter Affidavit, urging the court to dismiss the application as it is aimed at scuttling the right to Fair Hearing. The 4R filed AN APPLICATION… To dismiss or strike out the entire petition for being incompetent. In opposition, the Petitioners filed a counter affidavit urging the Court to dismiss the application for being incompetent and misconceived.
The 4R filed AN APPLICATION… urging the court to strike out all the paragraphs of the petition itemized in Reliefs 2 & 3 of the application. The Petitioners, by their Counter Affidavit, urged the court to dismiss the second application filed by the 4R. All the Motions moved and replies to the motions have all been adopted and the court will proceed to other matters. The 4R informed the court that all parties have met and agreed on the issues regarding witnesses and timings of examinations.
Proceedings continue shortly….
– special thanks to Regency Reporters