On Friday, the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) in Abuja witnessed the closure of the case presented by Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 elections. Atiku and the PDP had challenged the victory of Bola Tinubu from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 presidential election.
Atiku’s lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), informed the court that they had concluded presenting their case against Tinubu, as they had utilized the allotted time for their arguments. Uche stated that they had called 27 witnesses and submitted numerous documentary exhibits as evidence during the proceedings. He respectfully requested to formally close the case on behalf of the petitioners.
The counsel representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), informed the court that all parties had previously agreed to postpone the opening of the defense by the respondents until after the upcoming Sallah celebration.
Confirming this arrangement, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, the head of President Tinubu’s legal team, requested that the respondents, starting with INEC, be allowed to begin their defense against Atiku’s petition on July 3.
With no objections raised by the petitioners’ counsel, the panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned the case until July 3, when INEC will commence its defense in response to the petition.
