President-elect Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has expressed opposition to the request for live broadcasting of the daily proceedings on petitions seeking to annul his election.
Former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who ran as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the presidential election, had requested that the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) allow televised proceedings.
Atiku argued that the case was a matter of national concern and public interest, involving the rights of citizens and voters across Nigeria. The Labour Party candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, supported Atiku's request.
However, Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) filed separate processes opposing Atiku's application, describing it as an abuse of the legal process.
Tinubu and the Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima, accused Atiku of attempting to bring public opprobrium to the judiciary.
They argued that the application had no relevance to the petition and was intended to waste the court's time. They emphasized that the virtual court system implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic was supported by a practice direction issued by the President of the Court of Appeal.
Tinubu and the APC argued that Atiku's application was unnecessary and time-wasting.
They contended that the proceedings should be held in a serene and disciplined manner, maintaining that the court is not a platform for public entertainment.
The APC lawyers stated that the presidential election was not a matter of national concern and that the media was adequately covering the proceedings.
They raised concerns about sensationalism, social media trials, and the potential risks to witnesses if the proceedings were televised live. The APC urged the court to dismiss the application in the interest of justice.
The five-member panel, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, had scheduled Thursday for the continuation of the pre-hearing session on Atiku's petition.
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