Opposition Parties Demand Live Broadcast in Landmark Presidential Election Petitions Court Battle
The Presidential Election Petitions Court commenced its session on Monday, with opposition parties demanding a live broadcast of the proceedings.
The court will address the opposition’s request for live coverage as one of its initial matters.
The lawsuits filed by the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, contest the victory of Bola Tinubu from the All Progressive Congress. Four political parties are currently disputing Tinubu’s win in the 2023 general elections.
The cases brought before the court allege non-compliance with electoral laws, irregularities, and electoral malpractices. The petitioners argue that the February 25 presidential election was marred by massive irregularities and malpractices due to INEC’s failure to immediately upload results electronically.
Legal experts believe this case has the potential to impact Nigeria’s political landscape by addressing issues of electoral integrity and the rule of law. During the proceedings, Atiku and the PDP filed a motion requesting live coverage of the court proceedings, emphasizing that the case is of national concern and public interest.
They argued that the electorate and the international community have a right to be part of the proceedings, and technological advancements make regulated televised coverage feasible. The motion was considered a priority due to the national importance of the matter.
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