The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has hinted of plan to consolidate the three remaining petitions challenging the outcome of the last presidential election.
The petitions are those filed by presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) Atiku Abubakar, the PDP; Peter Obi and LP and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
At the resumption of the pre-hearing session in the petition by Atiku and the PDP on Saturday, Justice Tsammani asked lawyers in the case to address the court on whether the surviving petitions should be consolidated as provided in Paragraph 50 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act 2022.
The Paragraph states: “Where two or more petitions are presented in relation to the same election or return, all the petitions shall be consolidated, considered and be dealt with as one petition unless the tribunal or court shall otherwise direct in order to do justice or an objection against one ornmore of the petitions has been upheld by the tribunal or court.”
Lawyers to parties however sought time to consult and report back to court on the issue, following which the court adjourned further pre-hearing session in the petition by Atiku and the PDP till Monday.
The court is on the petition by Obi and the LP.
Details shortly