Atiku’s Request: Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25 election, has requested a three-week timeframe to present a total of 100 witnesses to support his case against President-elect Bola Tinubu. During the proceedings before the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja, Atiku’s legal team, led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, revealed their plan to call expert witnesses and individuals whom they would seek to compel to testify. While expressing confidence that the allotted time may not be fully utilized due to the narrowing issues, Atiku aims to present a compelling case.
Opposition Stance: President-elect Bola Tinubu, represented by his lead counsel Mr. Roland Otaro, SAN, expressed his intention to discredit Atiku’s case within two days. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), represented by lawyer Abubakar Mahmood, SAN, stated that they would present only two witnesses. Similarly, the All Progressives Congress (APC), represented by Mr. Solomon Umoh, SAN, indicated their need for two days to present a total of 39 witnesses in their defense.
Atiku’s Presidential Claim: In addition to presenting his witnesses, Atiku Abubakar petitioned the court to declare him the winner of the presidential election, as he argues that he secured the second-highest number of lawful votes cast during the election. This request underscores the significance of the ongoing legal proceedings and the potential impact they may have on the electoral outcome.