2023 Presidential Election: Tribunal Dismisses  Application For  Live Broadcast Of Its Proceedings

 The Presidential Election Petition  Tribunal  has  dismissed  the application filed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the PDP  asking for  a live broadcast of its proceedings . Mr Peter Obi, who was the LP candidate, had also made the same request.

Atiku  was  the PDP presidential candidate in the presidential election held on February 25 ,2023.

In a unanimous ruling on the interlocutory applications, the five-member panel of justices held that the request had to do with a policy decision that can only be made by the judiciary.

In the lead ruling by its chairman , Justice Haruna Tsammani, the tribunal  held that the applications lacked merit and ought to be dismissed.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the chairman also noted that the applications, which were hinged on sections 36(3) and 39 of the Nigerian Constitution and Paragraph 19 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, 2022, and borders on fair- hearing, were outside the provisions of the concept and outside the claims brought by the petitioners for the determination of the court.

He said fair- hearing involves hearing both parties and providing equal opportunity to present their cases before the court and not to dramatize the trial through installation of cameras in the courtroom.

‘The mere sentimental claim that it (live broadcast of proceedings) will benefit the voters has no utilitarian value on the matters before the court.

 It is better for the avoidance of the trial by ordeal of live cameras in court’ he said.

It will be recalled that Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) , Prof. Mahmood Yakubu  had declared  Asiwaju Bola Tinubu , who was the APC presidential candidate,   winner  of the 2023 Presidential Election in February.

Tinubu had 8,794,726 votes , Atiku Abubakar, who was the PDP presidential candidate, got  6,984,520 votes,  Peter Obi  had 6,101,533 votes while the presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), Rabiu Kwankwaso  got 1,496,687 votes.

PDP, LP, and some other parties had  rejected the  election outcome  and had asked the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to annul Tinubu’s victory.- Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980. Thank you