JUST IN: Latest Updates From Presidential Election Petition Tribunal

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has adjourned the pre-trial hearing of a petition filed by the Hope Democratic Party (HDP), seeking the cancellation of the February 23 Election.

At the resumed hearing, chairman of the tribunal, Muhammed Garba, drew the attention of the petitioners to a motion filed on behalf of the party seeking to change its counsel.

The tribunal asked the party and its Presidential candidate, Mr Ambrose Oworu to respond to the application filed by a factional Chairman of the party, Mr Roland Tambra.

However, counsel to HDP and its presidential candidate, Mr Oliver Eyo, Informed the tribunal that whoever filed the motion is a ‘meddlesome interloper’ who has nothing before the court and in any case, he was just served this morning (Thursday) and will need time to respond.

In a short bench ruling, justice Garba adjourned to Tuesday the 25th of June for further hearing.

HDP had earlier argued that the postponement of the election from February 16 to 23 had no backing of any law as no cogent and verifiable reason required by law were advanced for the postponement.

It prayed for an order compelling INEC to produce at the tribunal; notice of election, original timetable for February 16, the press statement of February 16 as well as minutes of the meeting where the decision to postpone the February 16, presidential was held.

The Party had complained that they were validly nominated for the 2019 general elections but were unlawfully excluded from the said elections by INEC by delisting their names and party logo from the ballot papers.

Another grouse of the petitioners was that the electoral body placed a false version of their registered party logo on the ballot papers for elections which cost them the chances of realising their political ambition in the 2019 general elections.