Election Petition Tribunal: Obi asks Trial judges for a week-long adjournment
… Gets support from INEC, Tinubu/Shettima lawyers
By PHC Telegraph
Peter Obi present at the tribunal when hearing on the matter commenced
The Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi on Wednesday asked for extra time from the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, PEPT, to enable his lawyers file additional processes.
When the matter was called up on day three of hearing, Livy Uzoukwu, counsel for Obi informed their Lordships of his intention to seek a week long adjournment at the pre-hearing stage.
He said that the plea for the extension of time and the choice of a new date for the hearing had been agreed to by lawyers on the other side, representing both INEC as well as Tinubu and Shettima who are both defendants in the matter which has been attracting serious national attention.
The crowded courtroom on Wednesday was packed with lawyers.The Port Harcourt Telegraph understands that the courtroom was fully packed as the pre-hearing session got underway on Day 3 of the proceedings.
Also present in court was Labour’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who arrived earlier and took his seat among other Nigerians.
Uzoukwu disclosed that all the parties to the suit had agreed that Wednesday the 17th of May, 2023 would be most ideal for the commencement of legal fireworks.
Within that time frame. Uzoukwu told the Tribunal, all the processes filed would be ripe for hearing.
Counsels for Tinubu and Shettima and INEC affirmed that they were aware of the move by lawyers for the plaintiff to seek an adjournment.
Obi is challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election held in the country.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the winner of the election.
Meanwhile, AA, one of the parties which hurried to the Tribunal to challenge Bola Tinubu’s victory has withdrawn its case.