By Deborah Onyofufeke, Abuja
The Labour Party, its Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi on Wednesday, disclosed their support for the request of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar where in they filed an application praying the court to permit the live broadcast of the proceedings of the Presidential Election Petition Court sitting in Abuja.
Counsel to the Labour Party and its Presidential candidate, Dr. Livy Uzuokwu (SAN) made this known on Wednesday while speaking with newsmen after the court adjourned pre-hearing session in their petition challenging the election of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.
Uzoukwu said with the realities on ground, a live broadcast of the court proceedings has become imperative adding that Obi and the Labour Party are in total support of the request by Atiku and his party.
He also said it is important to have the proceedings covered live so that Nigerians will have first hand information on what goes on at the Court and will clear doubts in the minds of millions of Nigerians.
Uzoukwu explained that live broadcast of court proceedings was initiated by colonial masters but jettisoned when Nigeria got independence.
He further explained that the court room cannot conveniently accommodate 200 people and the 200 people cannot adequately represent Nigerians, adding that if the proceedings are broadcast live, Nigerians will be better informed.
“During the hearing of the motion on notice by Atiku and the PDP, Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Mr. Obi will be fully in support”, the senior lawyer said.
Meanwhile, further pre-hearing session in the petition of LP and Obi has been shifted to May 17 by the Presidential Election Petition Court.
The pre-hearing session was shifted at the request of LP and Its presidential candidate to enable them consolidate on processes so far filed and those yet to be filed.
Following the request of Obi’s lawyer to the effect, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani in a brief ruling granted the application and fixed next week Wednesday as the return date.
