The Presidential Election Case Court (PEPC) has urged the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and his party to file a case challenging the February 25 presidential election within three weeks.
The Court also ordered President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to defend their election victories within five days.
Obi had demanded seven weeks to demonstrate their accusations against the disputed election that produced Tinubu through his counsel, Professor Awa Kalu, SAN.
Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, the Court’s Chairman, issued the instructions on Tuesday while presenting the Court’s pre-hearing session findings.
Among other things, Justice Tsammani directed that Obi’s petition be opened for hearing on May 30 and closed on June 23.
The Court stated it made the decision because of the short time frame in which the petition must be resolved.
Obi, who was in court to watch the proceedings, took leave from the Court and withdrew immediately after the order was issued, stating that he and his party were going to prepare for the full-fledged hearing of the petition.
Meanwhile, the Court has ordered the petitions to be merged in order to expedite their hearing.
Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) objected vehemently to the consolidation of the petitions, which the Court dismissed.
