Tinubu to respond today to Atiku’s request through his lawyers
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Bola Tinubu has told the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) in Abuja that he will respond today to the request by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar for the proceedings to be broadcast live.
The tribunal adjourned until Thursday to enable Tinubu respond to the application for live streaming of the day-to-day proceedings on petitions seeking to nullify the election of the President-elect, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tinubu jetted out to Europe on Wednesday with the explanation that he went to parley with investors, but Nigerians on social media do not believe him, saying he sneaked out yet again to treat his failing health – two weeks after he returned from one medical treatment abroad.
Muhammadu Buhari himself, the sitting President, is currently in the United Kingdom “on dentist’s instruction” to fix his teeth, another medical tourism that has characterised his eight years in Aso Rock.
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Atiku and Obi request live transmission
Atiku and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) are challenging the declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Atiku, in an application dated May 5 filed by his lawyers, led by Chris Uche, SAN, urged the tribunal to grant permission for the proceedings to be televised, according to reporting by Vanguard.
Obi has also requested live transmission of the hearing.
Tinubu, through his lead counsel, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, confirmed on Wednesday receipt of the application and said he would need time to respond to it.
“My Lords, my immediate response is that he will hear from us within the time allowed by the rules,” Fagbemi pleaded.
Likewise, APC lead counsel Akin Olujinmi, SAN, confirmed the application was served him on Monday and “we are taking steps to respond appropriately to the application within the time permitted by rules of this court.”
INEC counsel equally confirmed receipt of the application.
The tribunal adjourned further pre-hearing on Atiku’s main petition until today and explained the application for live broadcast of the proceedings will be heard once all the respondents file their responses.
It ordered all the parties to sort out all the documents they would concede or object to, as well as key issues to be considered.
