Presidential Election Tribunal Rejects Live Coverage Of Proceedings

On Monday in Abuja, the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, denied Atiku Abubakar’s request for the live streaming of the proceedings of his petition challenging the election and declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the most recent presidential election.

The Court determined that the request was innovative and at this time was not covered by any current legislation in the nation.

The panel’s unanimous ruling was issued by the chairman of the court, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, who stated that the request had no basis in the petition Atiku had submitted to the court.

Justice Tsammani further stated that the motion should not be granted at this time because it could transform the court into a stadium or market square.

Additionally, Justice Tsammani ruled that allowing a live telecast of the petition’s hearings would not give the petition any more dictatorial legitimacy.

After concluding that the petition lacked merit, Justice Tsammani rejected it.

Because of the colossal nature of his petition, Atiku asked the court hearing his appeal against the results of the presidential elections on February 25 for an order authorizing live broadcast of the daily sessions.

Atiku and the PDP, in the application, specifically prayed to the tribunal for “An order Directing the Court’s Registry and the parties on modalities for admission of Media Practitioners and their Equipment into the courtroom.”