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Tag: Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT)

  • Breaking: Tribunal rejects PDP, Atiku’s request to re-argue APC’s objection to petition

    The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) has rejected the request by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar for opportunity to re-argue a motion by the All Progressives Congress (APC), seeking the dismissal of the petition.

    The tribunal had on June 11, 2019 ruled that the petitioners – PDP and Atiku had no response to the motion by the APC, on the grounds that they failed to file a counter-affidavit.

    It was that ruling that the petitioners prayed the court to set aside and allow them formally respond to the motion, a request the tribunal rejected in a ruling on Wednesday.

    Read Also: Atiku sues Buhari’s aide Onnochie for N2.5bn

    The tribunal also adopted the schedule of proceedings agreed by parties on Monday, and adjourned till Thursday for the commencement of formal trial – hearing of the petition.

    The petitioners are expected to call their first set of witnesses on Thursday.

     

    Details shortly.

     

  • Atiku: I’ve no plan to protest over INEC server

    There is no plan to lead a protest should the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) rule against my bid to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to grant him access to information on the Commission’s central server, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, said on Sunday.

    Atiku, who was the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23 presidential election, debunked reports that he was planning to lead a protest should his request be declined by the panel.

    The former vice president Atiku his party are challenging President Muhammadu Buhari victory of at the tribunal where they have prayed the tribunal to compel INEC to grant them access to information relating to the presidential election on the Commission’s central server.

    The electoral umpire told the tribunal on June 13 that it has no server for Atiku and the PDP to inspect.

    Read Also: June 12: Threshold in our national life – Atiku

    In a statement by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, the PDP candidate yesterday described the report in circulation to that effect as the handiwork of mischief makers.

    According to Atiku, the said report was meant to mar his “spotless pro-democratic record”, with the view to laying the groundwork on false charges against him.

    The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement circulating in a section of the media, to the effect that Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of PDP in the 2019 presidential election and Vice President of Nigeria, 1999-2007, plans to lead a street protest in the event that the election petition tribunal rules against him and his party on the issue of a server for the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    “I wish to emphatically state that such a statement did not emanate from Atiku Abubakar or his privies. It is the work of mischief makers who want to mar his spotless pro-democratic record and lay the ground work for their threatened actions against him on false charges of being a threat to national security.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, Atiku Abubakar believes in the Rule of Law and in the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In his almost four decades in politics, he has never taken action or spoken words against democracy and will not start now.

    “Atiku Abubakar and his team have confidence in God and thus call on those bent on mischief to have the fear of God and retrace their steps.

    “Democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. The culture of fear being created now cannot rein in our democracy. Nigeria and Nigerians have a consistent history of outlasting tyranny and will continue to do so by the grace of God.”

     

  • Breaking: We will be fair to all, Presidential tribunal assures Atiku, Buhari, others

    The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) has assured that it would be fair to all parties in the four petitions pending before it that it.

    The petitions are challenging the outcome of the last presidential election, won by the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), who is heading the tribunal’s five-man panel, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa gave the assurance on Wednesday while speaking at its inaugural sitting, held at the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal.

    Justice Bulkachuwa said: “We assure all stakeholders that each litigant will be given equal opportunity to present his case in a mature manner before us.

    Read Also: Buhari, Jonathan, Atiku and who?

    “As we gather in this honourable courtroom today, I wish to use this opportunity to reassure Nigerians and friends of Nigeria, that the Court of Appeal will work in accordance and within the dictates of the Constitution, the law and international best practices, to dispense justices to all, without fear or favour, affection or ill will.”

    She sought the cooperation of all, particularly the senior lawyers in the cases, and warned that the court will penalise infractions.

    Bulkachuwa said there are, presently 786 petitions, with Imo State having the highest number of 76 petitions, which necessitated the posting of six panels to the state.

    The PCA, who stressed the importance of an independent Judiciary in every democracy, noted that on Jigawa State where petitions were not filed.

     Details later

  • Presidential tribunal considers Atiku’s petition Wednesday

    The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) will hold its inaugural session on Wednesday at the Abuja division of the Court of Appeal.

    By the schedule of activities released on Tuesday, the tribunal listed four petitions for mention.

    The first is the one filed by Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and Ambrose Owuru, who claimed to be the party’s presidential candidate. The petition, marked: CA/PEPC/001/2019 was filed on March 7 this year.

    The second, marked: CA/PEPC/002/2019 was filed on March 18 this year by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the election, Atiku Abubakar.

    Read Also: Buhari, Jonathan, Atiku and who?

    The third marked: CA/PEPC/003/2019 was filed by the Coalition for Change (C4C) and Geff Ojinika, who claimed to be the party’s presidential candidate.

    The fourth petition, marked: CA/PEPC/004/2019, was filed on March 19 this year by the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) and Pastor Aminchi Habu, listed as the party’s presidential candidate.