…By Dorcas Funmi for TDPel Media.
The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 elections, Atiku Abubakar, has concluded his case before the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) in Abuja.
Atiku and the PDP are contesting the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.
Atiku’s Lead Counsel Presents Final Witnesses and Exhibits
Chief Chris Uche (SAN), Atiku’s lead counsel, informed the court that they were closing their case due to the exhaustion of the allocated time for presenting their arguments against Tinubu.
Uche revealed that a total of 27 witnesses had been called and several documentary exhibits had been tendered as evidence before the court.
He requested the formal closure of the case on behalf of the petitioners.
Agreement to Defer Defence Opening Till After Sallah Celebration
Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), informed the court that all parties had mutually agreed to postpone the opening of the defence by the respondents until after the upcoming Sallah celebration.
Respondents Request to Open Defence from July 3
Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), the head of Bola Tinubu’s legal team, requested that the respondents, starting with INEC, be allowed to open their defence to Atiku’s petition from July 3.
The petitioners’ counsel did not object to this request.
Adjournment for INEC’s Defence Opening
Justice Haruna Tsammani-led panel, after considering the no objection stance from the petitioners’ counsel, adjourned the case until July 3.
This adjournment will allow INEC to commence its defence in response to Atiku’s petition.