The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Monday assured litigants that it would do justice to all petitions before it. The Chairman of the five-member Tribunal, Justice Haruna Tsammani, made the pledge at its inaugural sitting at the headquarters of the Court of Appeal in Abuja on Monday.

Justice Tsammani, who heads the Abuja division of the appellate court, advised lawyers against frivolous applications that could delay proceedings at the court. Other members of the panel are Justice Stephen Adah, Justice Monsurat Bolaji-Yusuf Justice Boloukuoromo Moses Ugo; and Justice Abbah Mohammed.

He admonished counsels: “Knowing full well that election matters are time-bound; let us avoid unnecessary time wasting applications,” adding: “let us avoid making sensational comments or statements”, he said.

He gave another morale booster: “the will look at the substance of the case(s) rather than unnecessary technical arguments, so that everyone that leaves here will be satisfied that justice has been done.”

Responding, Chief Wole Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and lead counsel to Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the president-elect, said lawyers were ready to cooperate with the court. “We are not unmindful of our responsibilities as members of the Bar. I want to assure your Lordships of our unflinching supports.

“Whatever the court wants to do to accelerate the matters, we are ready to give the court our support,” Chief Olanipekun, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Body of Benchers, said.

Speaking in the same vein, Labour Party’s lawyer, Dr. Levy Uzoukwu, and Chris Uche of the PDP, both SAN, pledged their support to the court. Mr Uzoukwu said the court’s decision would deepen Nigeria’s election jurisprudence.

Shortly after settling down for the business of the day, the pre – hearing conference, the tribunal dismissed the petition filed by The Action Alliance (AA), one of the opposition political parties challenging Senator Bola Tinubu’s victory in the Feb. 25 Presidential Election, following the party’s withdrawal of its petition.

Counsel to AA, Oba Maduabuchi-Ume, SAN, told the Presidential Elections Petition Court (PEPC) that a motion for withdrawal had been filed to the effect. Following Maduabuchi – Ume’s application, the court consequently struck out the petition.

Maduabuchi – Ume told newsmen in an interview that he acted on the instruction of the party.

The tribunal began with the pre-hearing process with counsels to the parties in the petition filed by the Action Peoples Party (APP) and Labour Party(LP) informing the tribunal that they had filed answers to questions raised by the opposing party.

Dr. Levi Uzoukwu (SAN) led the legal team of Mr Peter Obi,Mr. Mahmoud (SAN) led the INEC legal team, Chief Wole Olanipekun heads the Senator Bola Tinubu/ Senator Kashim Shettima team, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi led the All Progressives Congress (APC) legal team while Mr. Obed Agu is head of theAction Peoples Party (APP) legal team.

The tribunal adjourned to Wednesday for continuation of the pre – hearing conference of the tribunal but advised that parties in the petition should meet on documents they intend to present and the ones they are objecting to , necessary application and the issues to be considered in the petition.

The tribunal will meet on Tuesday to begin the pre -hearing conference on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)/ Atiku petition and the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM).