The Labour Party's presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the party's leadership have been granted a 21-day window period by the elections petition tribunal to schedule a hearing for his case.
This was revealed in an exclusive interview with Dr
Yunusa Tanko, the Chief Spokesman of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign
Council. Tanko expressed excitement that Obi, the former governor of Anambra
State, had initiated the legal process to reclaim what he believed was the
people's mandate.
Tanko
stated, "The tribunal has given 21 days of response. So it is only after
then that they can fix a date for the hearing." He added, "This
(duration) is a legal procedure from the tribunal. We have shared a copy of the
petition to keep the media abreast of development. I am sure we will get a
hearing date after the 21 days."
Obi's
petition comes four weeks after the presidential and National Assembly
elections that produced the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. The LP flag
bearer is challenging the outcome of the presidential poll on several grounds,
including Tinubu's alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking, as well as
INEC's non-compliance with its guideline and the Electoral Act.
While Tanko
did not disclose why it took Obi so long to file the petition, a source within
the party revealed that Obi wanted to gather sufficient evidence to support his
claims of massive rigging, voter intimidation, and corruption against the
electoral umpire. "You know Obi doesn't like talking without getting
facts. That's why he took his time before he officially filed his case at the
tribunal," the source said.
The
petition, marked CA/PEPC/03/2023, lists Obi and the LP as plaintiffs, while
INEC, Tinubu, his deputy, Shettima Kashim, and the ruling APC are the first to
fourth respondents. The LP and Obi hope that their petition will lead to a fair
and just outcome that reflects the will of the Nigerian people.
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