10 Days To Go: Tribunal Rules Today On Atiku’s Motion For Live Coverage

The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal will today rule on the motion filed by Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for a live broadcast of the proceedings.   

This is just as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have opposed the request of Atiku for live broadcast of the petition he filed challenging the declaration of Tinubu as winner of the 2023 presidential election.

In their objections, the defendants argued that the solemn nature of the court would be put in jeopardy, if granted.

Tinubu in his objection  said Atiku’s request was not only surprising but dangerous as it was capable of prejudicing the court itself.

He told the five justices that Atiku should not be allowed to turn the court to a football stadium, a crusade ground, a theatre or film ground where all manner of telecast could be permitted.

He said the court should not grant an order that cannot be enforced or supervised, adding that the present moment is not the best time for such a request to be granted.

The counsel to APC, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), also faulted the request, saying that Atiku failed to disclose injuries he would suffer if the request was not granted.

He contended that, at the moment, nobody, including Atiku, had complained of inadequate coverage of the proceedings so far.

Fagbemi insisted that Atiku did not deserve to be granted the request

The electoral body, in its own objection by its counsel, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud, SAN, said that the court room is for serious business and not a market place where anything goes, adding that the request for live coverage is unnecessary and uncalled for and should not be granted.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the court, Justice Haruna Tsammani, has reserved ruling on whether to grant the request or not.

February 25: Tinubu, Shettima Oppose Live Coverage Of Tribunal Proceedings

Atiku had approached the court hearing his case against the outcome of the February 25 presidential polls for an order allowing live broadcast of the day-to-day proceedings regarding his petition because of its monumental importance.

The application filed on their behalf by their team of lawyers led by Chief Chris Uche (SAN) is predicated, amongst other grounds that: The matter before the honourable court is a dispute over the outcome of the Presidential Election held on 25th February 2023, a matter of national concern and public interest involving citizens and voters in the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, who voted and participated in the said election; and the International Community as regards the workings of Nigeria’s Electoral Process.”

They contended that being a unique electoral dispute with a peculiar constitutional dimension, it is a matter of public interest whereof millions of Nigerian citizens and voters are stakeholders with a constitutional right to receive.