TRIBUNE ONLINE
The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) sitting in Abuja has adjourned till Friday, hearing in the petition brought before it by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) challenging that declaration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.
When the petition was called on Tuesday, Counsel to Tinubu and Kashim Shettima, who are 3rd and 4th respondents in the petition, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) referred the court to the judgement of the Supreme Court delivered on Friday, May 26, 2023 in a suit seeking the disqualification of Tinubu and Shetimma to participate in the February 25 Presidential election filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the ground of double nomination of Shettima.
According to Olanipekun, “As officers of the court, it behoves on us to assist the court in all circumstances and to also bring to the attention of your Lordships decisions of your Lordships from other judicial divisions which relates to any matter before your Lordships, even if those decisions do not necessarily align with the interest of our clients.
“It becomes more imperative since we are aware of the end decision of the Supreme Court which touches on matters within the proceedings before your Lordships”, Olanipekun said and told the court that the petition by the APM borders on double nomination of his client, Shettima, who is the 4th respondent in the petition.
Olanipekun informed the court that the apex court gave a decision on the same subject matter on May 26 in yet to be reported judgement in SC/CV/ 501/2023 between the PDP and INEC and three others.
He said the apex court considered all the issues and resolved them and promised to confer with the Counsel to the Petitioner whether there is still the need to continue with the petition, considering the Friday decision of the Supreme Court.
