The 2023 presidential election petitions tribunal has thrown out the live broadcast of proceedings' request by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP).
The Justices ruled that televising the proceedings has no relevance to the petitions, and that it is not rooted in any of Nigeria’s laws.
PEPT Chairman, Justice Haruna Tsammani, in his ruling dismissed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party’s (LP) application for live coverage of court proceedings at the 2023 Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) in Abuja.
Justice Tsammani stated that the application lacked merit.
The application was filed by the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, on May 8, seeking an order to allow the live coverage of the daily court proceedings regarding the case against President-elect Bola Tinubu following the February 25 election.
The Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, also requested a similar application for televised proceedings at the tribunal.
However, a week later, Tinubu opposed the application, considering it an abuse of the court process.
Justice Tsammani’s dismissal of the application means that the court proceedings will not be broadcast live as requested by the PDP and LP.
Recall that the PDP and LP had argued that live-streaming court sessions would remove doubts about the judiciary’s transparency and ensure fairness.
The APC, on the other hand, opposed this stance, claiming that it would not improve justice.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who finished second in the February 25 election, have requested that the tribunal’s sessions be broadcast live in order to keep Nigerians informed of the proceedings.
In their application, Atiku and the PDP, represented by Chris Uche, specifically requested that the court establish rules for media practitioners and their equipment in the courtroom.
The LP and its candidate, Peter Obi, have filed a similar application, claiming that Nigerians deserve real-time information about the election petition proceedings as stakeholders.
This application is strongly opposed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, the president-elect, and the APC.
They contend that it relates to court policy formulation, which is outside the scope of the tribunal’s jurisdiction.
Lateef Fagbemi, counsel for the APC, advised the court against turning the proceedings into “a Big Brother electoral series.”
Wole Olanipekun, the president-elect’s lawyer, warned that if approved, live broadcasting could endanger judges and lawyers.
Ahead of the ruling, Obi insisted on live broadcasting, stating;
"We are in the modern age where transparency is required. An election is being disputed by four political parties. To be fair and for equity, it is very much expected that processes are steamed live for people to follow."
Yunusa Tanko, spokesperson for the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, and Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, had both requested a live broadcast.
They contended that the public has a right to observe the proceedings and that transparency is consistent with democratic principles.
Festus Keyamo, the Chief Spokesman for the disbanded Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, maintained that the issue should be resolved in court rather than by popular vote.
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