Tinubu, APC kick against live coverage of tribunal proceedings

Their counter affidavit argued that the decision falls out of the jurisdiction of the court because it touches the power of the court’s president.

Ayoola Babalola • May 17, 2023

Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi

President-elect Bola Tinubu and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), have asked the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) to dismiss the application for a live telecast of the tribunal’s proceedings.

The application was made by presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, who earlier argued that holding public proceedings is in line with the “crucial components of the court’s constitutional obligation.”

In their counter affidavit to the application, lawyers representing Mr Tinubu and the APC said the court does not have powers to grant the prayers of the application. Their counter affidavit argued that the decision falls out of the jurisdiction of the court because it touches the power of the court’s president.

“The application also touches on the powers and jurisdiction invested in the President of the Court of Appeal by the Constitution, over which this honourable court as presently constituted cannot entertain.

“The application touches on the administrative functions, which are exclusively reserved for the President of the Court of Appeal,” the affidavit read.

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