Tribunal Dismisses Obi, Atiku’s Request For Live Broadcast

Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has ruled out the request made by the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party and their candidates, #Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi for the proceedings of the court to be televised live.

Justice Haruna Tsammani ruled out the application on Monday, May 22, at the federal court of appeal in Abuja on the ground of lack of merit.

PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi had filed an application for an order to allow the live coverage of the daily court proceedings.

Counsels to All Progressives Congress, APC presidential candidate and President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC opposed the application for live coverage of the proceedings of the court.

The Tribunal in a unanimous judgement on Monday, said the order sought by the petitioner was outside the scope of the petition, adding that televising of proceedings is not provided for in any law in Nigeria.

The Tribunal stated further that the court is created by the constitution and operates under the law, adding, the Court of Appeal was created to hear and determine the petitions before it and cannot act as a vanguard.

The Panel of Justices held that that the undue pressure of allowing cameras into the courtroom should be avoided as the impact it will have on witnesses can not be predicted.

Justice Tsammani added that the request was capable of turning the court to a stadium or marketplace and that must not be allowed for now, adding, the application was not rooted in the petition filed by the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Meanwhile, Protesters stormed the venue of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja, demanding a stop to Bola Ahmed Tinubu inauguration as Nigeria President come May 29.

Videos and photographs posted online showed hundreds of protesters gathered at the Court of Appeal Premises in Abuja, the venue of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal with placards of different inscriptions.

Inscriptions on some of the placards read thus: “INEC let Nigeria win,” “Nigerians not for sale. We fight for justice,” “A fraudulent election cannot produce a credible leader,” “President Muhammadu Buhari. Keep Your promise,” “Occupy INEC now,” “We stand for justice. We fight for a New Nigeria,” and “Buhari Mr Integrity Sack Mahmood Now.”