Tribunal: Senior Lawyer, Agbakoaba Rolls Out 3 Steps To Decide Atiku, Obi’s Fate in 1 Week
- Amid concerns about the credibility of the 2023 presidential polls, aggrieved parties have filed petitions to challenge INEC
- Former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), also lends his voice to the issue.
- The renowned legal luminary said the conduct and conclusion of the presidential election petition tribunal could be achieved in one week
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FCT, Abuja - A senior advocate of Nigeria, Dr Olisa Agbakoba, says the presidential election petition tribunal for the 2023 polls of February 25 can adopt three statutory procedures to conclude the case in one week.
Recall that after collating results at the presidential polls, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressive Congress (APC) flagbearer, as the winner of the presidential election.
Source: Twitter
His opponents immediately challenged this, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour (LP), who both filed a petition against INEC and Tinubu.
As reported by Punch, Dr Agbakoba revealed that three procedures could be adopted to conclude tribunal sessions before Monday, May 29, inauguration.
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He stated that applying procedural orders and directions, which may peremptorily decide some of the jurisdictional and procedural issues, can help hasten the process.
According to The Nation, Dr Agbakoba was quoted saying:
“Interpretation of Section 134 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as to whether securing 25 per cent of votes in Federal Capital Territory Abuja is compulsory to be President.
“Is a candidate permitted to stand for presidential or vice presidential election when he is at the same time a senatorial candidate?
“Issues relating to qualification of candidates to stand for presidential election."
“If the petition were arbitration proceedings, an arbitrator may issue a procedural order directed to counsel to address all complex disputes and the arbitral tribunal will deliver what is called a partial final award.”
According to the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Agbakoba stated that if all his recommended statutory procedures were adopted, the tribunal and the Supreme Court would resolve the petition in one week.
The prominent lawyer said this would further douse the tension of any imminent move for an interim government that would disrupt the May 29 inaugurations, TheCable reported.
Presidential Election Tribunal: Keyamo Gives Reason for His Absence on List of Lawyers Representing Tinubu
In another development, Festus Keyamo has explained to Nigerians the reason his name did not make it to the list of senior lawyers representing Bola Tinubu at the tribunal.
The senior lawyer said that as a serving minister in the cabinet of the present administration, the law does not permit him to be on any legal team.
According to Keyamo, he can only be part of the legal team representing Tinubu after President Muhammadu Buhari hands over on May 29.
Source: Legit.ng
