As the opposition party continues its legal battle at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) in Abuja, it has been reported that out of the 100 witnesses expected to be called, 26 witnesses have been examined so far. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, still have 74 more witnesses to testify.
The PDP, along with other aggrieved parties such as the Labour Party and its candidate Peter Obi, are challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential election, in which Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged as Nigeria’s president. Abubakar, the runner-up and former Vice President, is seeking to nullify Tinubu’s victory.
In May, the PDP had stated its intention to call up to 100 witnesses to testify before the tribunal. The parties involved have agreed on the number of witnesses, duration, and examination process. Although they were given seven weeks to call their witnesses, the petitioners’ counsel, Chris Uche, mentioned that they would require three weeks as the issues under consideration were becoming more focused.
However, a month has passed since then, and the PDP has presented 26 witnesses thus far to support its case. In the upcoming days, the party is expected to call the remaining 74 witnesses as part of its efforts to challenge Tinubu’s presidency.
The court recently resumed the hearing of the PDP’s petition, and the legal proceedings are ongoing.
