- Adjourns Hearing On Peter Obi’s Petition
Ayuba Sanusi
THE Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja Monday rejected the move by the outgoing governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong to represent the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in court.
At the commencement of the sitting of the panel earlier today, Governor Lalong had immediately the first petition filed against the outcome of the 25 February 2023 presidential election was called stood up and announced himself as Mr Tinubu’s representative.
“My Lords, my name is Simon Lalong and I am here to represent Tinubu,” the governor stated.
However, Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel declined to recognize him as Tinubu’s representative.
“You cannot represent an individual. Tinubu is not a corporation that would need a representative,” the presiding justice held.
“My Lords, in that case, I will represent the All Progressives Congress, APC,” Governor Lalong responded.
Meanwhile, the panel has adjourned further pre-hearing sessions on the petition of the Labour Party and its candidate, Mr Peter Obi filed to nullify the election of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu till Wednesday.
The court equally fixed the same date for another petition by the Action Peoples Party (APP) while it adjourned the case of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, till Tuesday.
While adjourning the cases, the court urged the parties to identify all the witness statements and documents they would rely on or object to during the actual hearing of the petitions.
Among those in court to witness the proceedings included the presidential candidate of the LP, Mr Peter Obi.
Eighteen-Eleven Media