Buhari vs Atiku: Presidential tribunal adjourns, fixes date for adoption of final addresses

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Thursday adjourned to August 21 for the adoption of final addresses over the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar challenging the declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari as winner of the February 23, presidential election.

This development followed the separate oral applications by Wole Olanipekun, SAN, and Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, leading the legal teams of Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, respectively.

In their submissions, they asked the court to permit them to begin to exchange their addresses from Monday, August 5 to Wednesday, August 7.

Recall that the Buhari’s legal team made use of only three days out of the six days fixed for defences but the legal team representing the APC declined to call any witnesses for defence.

Chairman of the tribunal, Mohammed Garba after due consideration of the submissions from the respondents and petitioner’s legal teams ruled that parties should begin to exchange addresses from August 5 and end by August 16.

Garba also affirmed the adjournment of the proceedings to August 21 for adoption of final addresses.