Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja has reserved judgment on the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. The petition is challenging President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory at the February 23, 2019 election.
The tribunal led by Justice Mohammed Garba announced this after listening to the final arguments of All the parties to the case.
Justice Garba leading four other justices, said the date for judgment would be communicated to the parties through counsel.
“Judgment in this petition is hereby reserved and will be delivered on the date to be sent to counsel for the parties,” Justice Garba said.
Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), urged the court to uphold their case by either declaring them the winner of the election or order a fresh one. He is leading the petitioners.
However, the respondents comprising the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) represented by Yunus Usman (SAN), Buhari, led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), and the All Progressives Congress represented by Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) – urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition for lacking in merit.
The petitioners had called 62 witnesses to prove its case. While INEC and the APC called none, Buhari called seven in defence. The tribunal, on August 1, directed parties to file and exchange their final addresses and fixed Wednesday for the adoption of their addresses.
