May 23, (THEWILL) – The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), sitting at the Court of Appeal, Abuja, has given Atiku Abubakar, Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), three weeks, beginning from May 30, 2023, to present his case against President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Chairman of the Court, Justice Haruna Tsammani, issued the order on Tuesday.
THEWILL recalls that the former Vice President, on Saturday, requested three weeks to call 100 witnesses to prove his case against the declaration of Bola Tinubu as winner of the 2023 presidential election.
Noting that a total of 166 witnesses would be called to testify in the case, Justice Tsammani said star witnesses in the petition would only be allowed to adopt their written depositions and identify documents when necessary.
In line with Section 41(3) of the 1st Schedule of the Electoral Act, he added that there shall be no oral examination of witnesses.
The Court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to present its defence within two days.
Also, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has been given one day to prove its case as it had only one witness to call.
APM’s hearing will begin on May 30 to end July 3 and is expected to close its evidence on June 6.
The Tribunal is also expected to sit all week including Saturdays.
