INEC chiefs: National Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu (middle) flanked by National Commissioners; Barr. Festus Okoye (right) and Mrs May Agbamuche-Mbu
INEC leads respondents’ defence proceedings, as PEPT resumes hearing, Monday
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to open its defence as the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) sitting at the Court of Appeal Headquarters in Abuja, begins hearing of respondents in the petitions filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, along with the Labour Party (LP) and Peter Obi, its flagbearer in the February 25 election.
The petitioners are challenging the election victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu, as winner and now president.
INEC had declared Tinubu winner and president-elect amid controversies surrounding the conduct of the elections, as the petitioners approached the PEPT seeking the annulment of the political exercise on several prayers bordering on electoral and constitutional grounds.
The petitioners had already concluded their presentation of documents before the court to support their claims during a three-week period provided by the PEPT for them to tender evidence.
From July 3, the respondents are expected to begin defence of their case beginning with the first respondent, INEC.
According to the timeline served to all the parties before, full hearing had started from May 30, this year after the conclusion of one week of pre-trial hearings. The petitioners (PDP and (LP) had been accorded three weeks to present their cases through documents and witnesses.
The respondents; INEC, Bola Tinubu, Kashim Shettima and APC, are expected, through their counsels, to begin providing reasons for their objections raised over exhibits admitted by the PEPT and tendered by the petitioners.
The defence proceedings had been moved by a week following disruptions occasioned by public holidays.
The schedule has listed INEC to begin its defence from July 3 to 7, while the Tinubu and Shettima (second and third respondents) will take their turn for the next one week, and the APC will close the respondents’ defence subsequently.
The PEPT will finally close door to any more evidence after the APC’s defence.
Starting from July 14, APC, as fourth respondent, will have the opportunity to open their own defense. They will do this until July 17, 2023.
Respondents will make their closing argument before the court from July 21, while the petitioners are expected to make same on July 29.
However, while the respondents reply on August 4, adoption of all arguments in addresses by the court follows on August 5.
The PEPT justices will notify parties of its ruling afterwards.
Meanwhile, reports have emerged claiming that the PEPT may not deliver its ruling in August after the close of addresses by all parties.
It is claimed that the PEPT has extended the hearing till beyond the August date, originally fixed for ruling.
