Fireworks will commence today at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) sitting in Abuja as the legal giants representing President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), will slug it out with those of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) and others.
Tinubu was announced winner of the keenly contested election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) having polled 8,794,726 to defeat Atiku and Obi who polled 6,984,520 and 6,101,533 respectively.
Blueprint reports that Atiku, Obi and other aggrieved candidates filed petitions challenging the conduct of the 2023 presidential election and now hearing has been slated for Monday May 8, 2023.
Some of the legal luminaries expected to appear for their clients at the tribunal are Chief Wole Orlanipekun, SAN, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, YK Gadzama, SAN, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, Paul Usoro, SAN, Goddy Uche, SAN, Mahmood Magaji, SAN, Emeka Etiaba, SAN among others.
The impending legal battle is against the backdrop of various petitions filed by the aggrieved parties.
Meanwhile, journalists covering court proceedings under the aegis of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC) have described as unlawful Appeal Court’s attempt to restrict judiciary reporters assigned to cover the PEPC from carrying out their duty as enshrined in Chapter 2 Section 22 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
While condemning the development in a press statement dated May,6, 2023, NAJUC Secretary General, Paschal Njoku said: “The mass media (The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media) shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people”.
“As members of the fourth estate of the realm, the role of the media in coverage of election matters cannot be underestimated.
“Before the 2023 general elections, Judiciary Reporters had had the herculean task of covering pre-election matters from the Federal High Court up to the Supreme Court without any form of restriction on media houses.
“As customary, Nigerians and the international community are looking unto the media for the coverage of the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Court.
“However, Judiciary Reporters were jolted on Friday, May 5, by a directive from the Court of Appeal that only a few of them would be permitted to cover the Presidential Election Petition Court.
“The Court of Appeal directed the few media houses to pick accreditation cards from one Bukola Gar, a Personal Assistant to the President, Court of Appeal.
“It is instructive to note that Bukola Gar did not contact the leadership of the National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC) in Abuja, before restricting some reporters from coverage of PEPC,”
Finding by Blueprint revealed that 26 reporters out of 44 were accredited for the coverage.
But information at the disposal of our correspondent indicated that the PEPC Secretary, Mrs Josephine, NAJUC leadership and Appeal Court are currently meeting to resolve the logjam.
