No fewer than 400 witnesses will be defending the case of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, against the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The petitioners revealed this during the continuation of trial at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Monday.
They will have only 14 days to do this and tender all documents they need to prove their case.
The Justice Mohammed Garba-led five-man tribunal said the 14 days period is prescribed under paragraph 16(3) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act.
The counsel to PDP, and Atiku, the lead counsel for the petitioners, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), said as much as his clients had proposed 400 witnesses, they “intend to call as many witnesses as possible within the prescribed time”.
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He added, “What we have not agreed on yet is whether we will be given opportunity or isolate the preliminary objection from the main address.
“We are also not too sure on the length of time of cross-examination.”
Justice Garba said, the length of time for cross-examination “will be dependent on the circumstances and facts”, particularly the number of witnesses parties to the case intended to call.
He added, “But we shall set a template for cross-examination which will not be sacrosanct.
“Like I said it will be dependent on the circumstances.”
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