The Presidential Election Petition
Tribunal, PEPC, sitting in Abuja has deferred further proceedings on the petition the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi, filed to challenge the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, to May 17.
The adjournment followed an agreement by all the parties in the matter.
Vanguard report that, Cited as 1st to 4th respondents in the petition are the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC; the President-elect, Bola Tinubu; Vice-President-elect, Kashim Shettima, and All Progressives Congress, APC.
As soon as the case’s hearings started, Obi and the LP informed the court that the parties had met and decided to request an adjournment so they could file and exchange the appropriate legal documents.
He informed the court that numerous procedures and motions had still to be submitted in the case.
Vanguard report that, The adjournment, according to Uzoukwu, SAN, will allow for a swift hearing and decision on the issue.
“My Lords, we convened and determined that the matter should be continued until next Wednesday so that we can be certain the processes are ready for hearing when we reconvene.
Uzoukwu continued, “We also decided that before then, we will meet and decide on documents that are not in dispute and documents that are.
After a brief discussion on Wednesday afternoon, the parties decided to apply for an adjournment, according to confirmation from INEC through its attorney, Mr. A. B. Mahmood (SAN).
The delay was required, said to Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), the attorney for Tinubu and Shettima, “so that when we come on Wednesday all the applications will be ready for adoption,” he added.
Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the APC’s attorney, also stated that his client thought the adjournment would speed up the process.