The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal chaired by Justice Kummai Bayang Akaahs will today deliver judgment in the petition filed by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) against President Goodluck Jonathan’s victory in the April 16 election.Notice of judgment was served yesterday on counsel after the Supreme Court struck out the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the petition.
The apex court held that the 60 days allowed for hearing and determination of an interlocutory appeal had elapsed.
The appeal arose from the July 14 ruling of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, then chaired by the suspended Appeal Court President, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, that held that the CPC’s petition, which was filed on a Sunday, is competent and proper in law.
Jonathan contested on the platform of the PDP. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari was the CPC’s candidate.
Jonathan and PDP had urged the Tribunal to dismiss the petition for being filed on Sunday, a public holiday.
But the Tribunal said that the petition was filed on a Sunday conferred no advantage on the petitioner, adding that it will be determined on merit and not ‘technicality’.
Dissatisfied, the PDP approached the apex court. But the interlocutory appeal could not be heard within the 60 days allowed.
The apex court directed all parties to go back to the Tribunal, which will deliver judgment in the substantive matter today.
At the last sitting, Jonathan and the ruling PDP disagreed openly on the status of the appeal.
The Justice Kummai Bayang Akaahs-led five-man panel will today deliver judgment in the substantive suit.
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