The Presidential Election Tribunal hearing kicked off on Monday, May 8, exactly 73 days after the February 25th election and 69 days after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu declared the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, flag bearer Bola Ahmad Tinubu winner of the election in the wee hours of March 1st, 2023 amid the barrage of complaints from a cross-section of Nigerians including the foremost elder statesman former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi one of the four Presidential candidates that filed petitions was conspicuously present in court at the commencement of a hearing by a five-member Panel of Justices led by Justice Haruna Simon Tasmani, with Justices Stephen Adam, BM Ugo, Bolaji Yusuf, and AB Muhammad.
Before the case was adjourned to Wednesday, May 10, the counsels exchanged filing of applications on pre-hearing issues.
The presiding Justice Tasamani assured all the parties that Justice will be served.
The LP standard bearer was accompanied to the court by the National Chairman of the Party Bar Julius Abure and other National officers of the party as well as Senator-elect for Anambra Central Senator Victor Umeh.
The Labour Party Presidential Candidate is seeking that the court declares him as the proper winner of the February 25 Presidential election among other demands.
In their separate response, counsels to the President-Elect, Wole Olanikpekun; Atiku Abubakar, Chris Uche, Peter Obi, and Livy Uzoukwu, all assured the court of their full cooperation and support in ensuring a speedy hearing and determination of the case.