Olisa Agbakoba concluded presidential petitions before May 29, tells the tribunal

Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, said on April 3 that speedy dispensation of presidential election petitions was a strategy against having an Interim National Government, ING.

In a statement on April 3, the Former NBA boss said that there would be no need for an Interim government if the petitions were heard and disposed of before May 29.

Olisa Agbakoba said that tension around the call for an Interim government is that the presidential election petitions may not conclude before the inauguration of a new president on May 29, 2023.

"The presidential election tribunals are urged to adopt the procedures very familiar with the speedy conclusion of arbitration matters."
Agbakoba listed three key issues in the presidential election petitions, which he said were resolvable by the application of procedure orders and or directions.

According to him, the first is the "interpretation of Section 134 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as to whether securing 25% (percent) of votes in Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja is compulsory to be president."
On the second, he queried: "Is a candidate permitted to stand for presidential or vice presidential election when he is at the same time a senatorial candidate?"

"But it's very possible to conclude these petitions, provided the court systems are very proactive.
"Under arbitration matters, procedural orders and or directions issues peremptorily to resolve sometimes very complex jurisdiction and procedural issues.