The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal will decide today whether its proceedings will be broadcast live.
This comes as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), and the All Progressives Congress (APC) are at odds over live broadcasting of the tribunal’s sessions.
The PDP and LP strongly support the live broadcast, claiming that it will dispel any doubts about the judiciary’s transparency and ensure fairness in the process. The APC, on the other hand, opposes this stance, claiming that it would be counterproductive to the pursuit of justice.
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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, who came in second in the February 25 election, has formally requested that the tribunal’s sessions be broadcast live in order to keep the Nigerian public informed of the proceedings.
Atiku and the PDP, represented by lawyer Chris Uche, have asked the court to establish guidelines for media practitioners and their equipment in the courtroom.
Similarly, the LP and its candidate, Peter Obi, have filed a similar application, emphasizing the importance of providing real-time information to the Nigerian people, who are parties to the election petition proceedings.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, the president-elect, and the APC, on the other hand, are vehemently opposed to these applications, deeming them unnecessary. They contend that the formulation of court policies falls outside the tribunal’s purview.
Lateef Fagbemi, counsel for the APC, warned the court against turning the proceedings into a “Big Brother electoral series.” At the same time, the president-elect’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun, expressed concern about potential risks to judges and lawyers if live broadcasting is approved.
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Peter Obi insists on live broadcasting ahead of the tribunal’s decision, stating, “In this modern age, transparency is essential.” With four political parties contesting the election, fairness and equity demand that the proceedings be streamed live for the public to watch.”
Festus Keyamo, Chief Spokesman for the disbanded Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, on the other hand, believes that the issue should be resolved through the courts rather than through public opinion.
