THE Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal on Monday resumed sitting with Justice Mohammed Garba as the new chairman, replacing Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa.
Garba emerged after Justice Bulkachuwa withdrew from the tribunal following a petition from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the judge is related with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator-elect from Bauchi State.
The PDP presidential candidate in the last general election, Atiku Abubakar also called for her removal from the case.
But the new tribunal chairman disclosed plans to recall the petitions in order to allow him prepare for the hearing.
He pleaded for support from all parties involved to better hear the case, adding that the proceedings would be carried out in line with the provisions of the law.
Until his new assignment, Garba was the Presiding Judge of the Lagos Division of the Appeal Court.
Meanwhile, the Tribunal today dismissed a petition brought forward by a group – Coalition for Change (CAC) challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the last presidential election.
The Defense Counsel representing the president and the APC, Wole Olanipekun and Lateef Fagbemi told the court that their clients have not been served a copy of the petition.
According to Olanipekun, the panel had earlier granted an application for substituted service such that the petition could be submitted to the first respondent’s address if it cannot be reached personally but as at Monday – the day of the hearing, the petitioners were yet to serve the processes.
The counsel to the petitioner Obed Agwu, however, claimed that an application for the withdrawal of their petition against the president was earlier filed on Monday but yet to be served.
The panel eventually granted the petitioners application and dismissed the case.
Olugbenga heads the Investigations Desk at The ICIR. Do you have a scoop? Shoot him an email at [email protected]. Twitter Handle: @OluAdanikin