Justice Haruna Tsammani, the chairman of the Presidential Election Petition Court, or PEPC, has pledged that the court will treat the petition in front of it fairly.
The pledge was made on Monday at the start of the hearing of the presidential election petitions before the court by Justice Tsammani, who serves as the Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal.
The results of the February 25 presidential election are being contested by five political parties and their respective candidates on the grounds that they did not follow the rules set forth by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the electoral laws.
Justice Tsammani said: “We are determined to look at the matter dispassionately and give justice to whoever deserves justice.”
He also promised that the court would consider the substance of each case over technicalities so that ”whoever leaves here will be satisfied that justice has been done”, while warning parties against unnecessary applications that could delay proceedings.
The presiding judge also disclosed that the petitions to be considered today during the pre-hearing would be the first three petitions while the 4th and 5th petitions “can take off tomorrow”.
Speaking further, Justice Tsammani said the cases will be alternated until the pre-hearing comes to an end.
“Then we will alternate until we finish the pre-hearing”, he said.
Other judges on the panel, aside Justice Tsammani are Justice Stephen Adah of the Court of Appeal Asaba division, Justice Misitura Bolaji-Yusuf, Court of Appeal also of Asaba Division, Justice Boloukuoromo Ugoh of Kano division and Justice Abba Mohammed of Ibadan Court of Appeal.
Chris Uche is leading the legal team of Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Wole Olanipekun heads the legal team of Bola Tinubu, president-elect and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Levi Uzoukwu is the head of team of Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party (LP). Justice