The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has adjourned the pre-hearing session in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and it’s presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar to July 1, 2019.
Chairman of the five-member panel, Justice Mohammed Garba, fixed the date, following a request by the petitioner’s lawyer, Mr. Chris Uche, for time to enable the petitioner’s reply to the APC’s objection to their application.
The APC had in the motion on notice filed by its lead counsel, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) on May 15, prayed the tribunal to void and strike out Atiku’s petition on various grounds of alleged irregularities and non-compliance with the Legal Practitioners Act.
When the motion was argued by Mr. Fagbemi on behalf of the APC, the PDP and its presidential candidate did not file a counter affidavit, prompting the tribunal to reserve ruling in the APC’s motion.
However, at Wednesday’s proceedings, lead counsel to the petitioners, Mr Chris Uche, informed the tribunal that the petitioners have just received the response of the APC to their request asking the tribunal to stop delivery of ruling in the motion or in the alternative, esponge the proceedings of the day the application was taken and would need time to respond ‘on point of law’.
The tribunal chairman, Justice Mohammed Garba after listening to the short argument by both parties, adjourned the hearing till July 1.
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