The Presidential Election Petition Court has adjourned to June 1, the hearing of the petition by the Labour Party and its candidate, Peter Obi, against the president, Bola Tinubu, following the illness of two key staff members of his legal team.
Counsel for the petitioners, Awa Kalu, SAN, persuaded the court to adjourn further proceedings on the case he filed to challenge the outcome of the February 25 presidential election through which Tinubu emerged as president.
Kalu, SAN, representing the petitioners told the court on Wednesday that two key members of the team suddenly fell ill and would not attend the day’s proceedings.
He said their absence has affected earlier plans to tender vital documents before the court.
He said, “My lords, our plan for today’s proceedings was to start with the presentation of our documents, but unfortunately, we had some unexpected development.
“The unexpected development concerns the sudden illness of two of our key staff, for which reason I am constrained to ask for an adjournment till tomorrow.
“It is with the greatest humility and apology that we make this application.
“I assure my lords that we will be here tomorrow morning and we will proceed with vigour.”
Responding to the development, counsel to the respondents said they were constrained to oppose the request.
Counsel for Tinubu, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, told the court that he was not opposed to the request for an adjournment just as counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission, A.B Mahmoud, SAN, and counsel for the All Progressives Congress, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, acceded to the application.
In a brief ruling, the President of the court, Justice Haruna Tsammani granted the application and adjourned the petition till Thursday.