The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal against the Independent National Electoral Commission, the All Progressive Congress and its presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has commenced on Monday in Abuja, and already it has begun with drama.
This was as the tribunal struck out the petition by the Action Alliance challenging the victory of Tinubu.
The five-member panel of Justices has Haruna Simon Tsammani as the presiding justice, with Stephen Adah, Bolaji Yusuf, Moses Ugo and Abba Mohammed as members.
Tsammani held that the dismissal was in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Daily Trust reported that, earlier, two lawyers Oba Maduabuchi (SAN) and Malachy Nwaekpe Esq announced their appearances for the AA.
Both lawyers claimed to have been instructed by different factions of the political parties to withdraw the petition.
The party’s presidential candidate, David Okonigbuan had brought the petition against INEC, APC, Bola Tinubu and Hamza Al Mustapha challenging his exclusion from the election.
The party also fielded Al-Mustapha as the presidential candidate who was listed by INEC.
The respondents in the matter did not object to the withdrawal of the petition.
There are now four petitions left out in the proceedings.
