The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal led by Justice Mohammed Garba refused the requested of the Independent National Electoral Commission to dismiss Atiku Abubakar’s petition on the ground that Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo was not joined as a party in the petition.
However, the tribunal held that Osibanjo is not a necessary party in the petition and that not joining him in the petition by the petitioners cannot warrant the dismissal of the petition.
The tribunal had, at the pre-hearing session reserved ruling in all applications filed during the session on the day of judgment.
The tribunal is presently delivering rulings on the pre hearing applications before judgment in the main petition, which Atiku and his party challenged the declaration of President Muhammad Buhari by INEC as the winner of the February 23, 2019 presidential election.
Felix Omohomhion, Abuja
