Election Petition: Obi , LP support live coverage of proceeding

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

Mr. Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP) yesterday said they are in support of the call for a live broadcast of the proceeding made by the Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Specifically, in an application yet to be heard, Atiku and his party are praying the court for “An order Directing the Court’s Registry and the parties on modalities for admission of Media Practitioners and their Equipment into the courtroom.”
Speaking shortly after the proceeding, counsel to Obi, Levy Uzoukwu, SAN said, for the interest of the general public, he is supporting a live broadcast proposal as the court room not big enough to accommodate people.
However, at the resumed proceeding, the senior lawyer informed the court that the parties unanimously agreed and seek the leave of the court for an adjournment by one week (May 17).
“My lords, we agreed that it will be better if the matter is adjourned to Wednesday, next week to enable parties file and serve processes, so when we come back, we will be sure the processes are ripe for hearing.
“We also agreed that before then, we would have agreed on documents to be tendered without being objected to and without being controversial,” he prayed.
Reacting, counsel to the Respondents, respectively confirmed what the petitioner said. The respondents through their various counsels pleaded with the panel that with the time frame, their documents will be ready for adoption.
The Counsel submitted that the procedure proposed, subject to the panel’s approval, will hasten the proceeding.
On the bench ruling, the Chairman of the panel, Justice Haruna Tsamani, on the instance of the all the parties, adjourned the matter till May 17, to enable them streamline and being up issues for determination.
Obi and his party are challenging the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as winner of the presidential election that held on February 25.
He wants the court to withdraw the Certificate of Return that was issued to Tinubu.
Also, he maintained that Tinubu was not even qualified to contest the election in view of his previous indictment and forfeiture of funds in a drug related case in the United States of America.
In his prayers, he equally posited that Tinubu was not duly elected with majority of valid votes cast at the election, insisting that he failed to win the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as required by the constitution.