In a unanimous decision on Tuesday, the Presidential Election Petition Court consolidated all the pending petitions, ensuring that they will be heard collectively.
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has been granted the requested three weeks to call upon 100 witnesses to substantiate his claim that Bola Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) is not the rightful winner of the presidential election held on February 25, 2023.
Notably, the court emphasized that key witnesses would only be allowed to adopt their written depositions, deliver oral arguments, and identify pertinent documents when necessary.
Additionally, the court has provided the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with two days to present its defense, while the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have each been allotted five days to respond to the petition.
Meanwhile, Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), legal counsel for the All Progressives Congress (APC), has informed the Presidential Election Petitions Court that no member of their legal team is permitted to communicate with the media regarding the ongoing proceedings. Akintola further stated that any lawyer found in violation of this rule would be expelled from the team.
