The presidential election petition court in Abuja has asked lawyers representing all those who filed petitions before the court to avoid unnecessary technicalities and address the substance of their petitions.

The five-member panel, with Justice Haruna Tsammani as the chairman, said this at the inaugural sitting.

The panel started sitting on Monday to hear petitions filed by aggrieved presidential aspirants against the declaration of Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winners of the disputed 2023 presidential election.

Other panel members are Justice Stephen Adah, Justice Misitura Bolaji-Yusuf, Justice Boloukuoromo Ugo and Justice Abbah Mohammed.

In his opening speech, Mr Tsammani urged the lawyers to refrain from engaging in unnecessary technicalities, which could cause delays in the expeditious hearing of the petitions.

“Election is time bound; let us not waste unnecessary time; let us cooperate with each other so that everyone will leave here satisfied.

“Avoid unnecessary technicalities, we are determined to look at all the matters brought before us.

“Let us look at what is good for our country and avoid time-wasting applications,” he said.

He said there were five petitions; the first three would be heard on Monday, while the last two would be heard on Tuesday.

Responding, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, said that the law-bound lawyers would adhere strictly to the rule of law throughout the proceedings.

Mr Olanipekun assured the lawyers would give their full support to the cause.

Other senior advocates also agreed with Mr Olanipekun.

Shortly after the judges recessed after the opening to prepare to hear the petitions, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, walked into the courtroom and exchanged pleasantries with lawyers and litigants in court.

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, had declared Mr Tinubu the winner of the February 25 Presidential Election.

(NAN)