Atiku Vs Buhari: Presidential Election Tribunal Grants Buhari’s Request

The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal has granted the request of President Muhammadu Buhari to amend his reply to the petition filed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Atiku and the PDP are challenging the declaration of President Buhari as the winner of the election by the Indepndent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Counsel to the petitioners, Dr Livy Ozoukwu (SAN) had asked the Justice Mohammed Garba-led panel to dismiss Buhari’s reply to their petition on the that the address of service of the lawyers who filed the reply was not supplied in the reply as mandatorily provided for in the Electoral Act.

Responding, Buhari’s counsel, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) filed a motion seeking to amendent the president reply to the petition.

However, the PDP and Atiku opposed the motion by President Buhari.

Delivering judgement on Monday, the Presidential Election Tribunal, in a unanimous ruling, granted permission to Buhari to amend his reply to the petition.

Jutice Garba noted that the amendment would not change the substance of the reply and it would not constitute an injustice against the petitioners.

It then ordered Buhari to file an amended reply reflecting the correction sought within three days.