Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa
Seven days after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lamented over the delay in replacing Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa on the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, a new face has appeared on the tribunal. He is Justice M. L. Garba of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal.
He was on the tribunal that sat on Monday.
Bulkachuwa withdrew after allegations of likely bias brought by counsels to PDP candidate in the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar.
The opposition party and its candidate, challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the polls, had last week raised issues over the delay in replacing Bulkachuwa.
Until Justice Garba’s appearance Monday, 84 days has passed, and 180 days is statutorily required for the petition to be heard and judgment delivered.
In a letter, the head of the PDP’s legal team, Levy Uzoukwu, the party wrote:
“Considering the strict requirements of keeping to the constitutional calendar for petition and the obvious fact that time is also running fast against the petitioner’s, we pray my lord to act timeously in appointing a replacement so that we will get a hearing notice and continue with the petition in the interest of justice.”
He was on the tribunal that sat on Monday.
The opposition party and its candidate, challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at the polls, had last week raised issues over the delay in replacing Bulkachuwa.
Until Justice Garba’s appearance Monday, 84 days has passed, and 180 days is statutorily required for the petition to be heard and judgment delivered.
In a letter, the head of the PDP’s legal team, Levy Uzoukwu, the party wrote:
“Considering the strict requirements of keeping to the constitutional calendar for petition and the obvious fact that time is also running fast against the petitioner’s, we pray my lord to act timeously in appointing a replacement so that we will get a hearing notice and continue with the petition in the interest of justice.”