Presidential Election Tribunal: INEC, Buhari Lose Bid To Dismiss PDM’s Petition

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has rejected moves by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and President Muhammadu Buhari to have the petition by Peoples Democratic Movement against the 2019 election dismissed.

PDM and its presidential candidate, Pastor Haminchi Habu are challenging the declaration of Buhari as the winner of the election by INEC.

Buhari and INEC had filed motions praying for the dismissal of PDM’s petition, stating that PDM and Habu failed to comply with provisions of paragraph 18(1) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act.

Delivering judgement on Thursday, the tribunal held that the petitioners did file their application for the issuance of pre-hearing notice within the time stipulated by law.

The tribunal held that the pleadings were closed on April 20, 2019 when the petitioners filed their reply to the last-received reply of the 2nd respondent (Buhari) to the petition.

The Presidential election tribunal, therefore, dismissed the applications by INEC and Buhari for lacking in merit.