As proceedings at the presidential election petition tribunal (PEPT) begin today, an application has been filed seeking the tribunal’s consent for daily live coverage by the media of the suit challenging the victory of President-elect Bola Tinubu in the February 25 polls.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, filed the application.
The applicants filed the application through their lawyer, Chris Uche SAN, arguing that the petition was a matter of national concern and public interest that warrants daily live coverage by the media.
They are specifically seeking “an order directing the Court’s Registry and the parties on modalities for admission of Media Practitioners and their Equipment into the courtroom.”
According to the applicants, the electorate in the 36 states of the federation who participated in the 2023 presidential polls and members of the international community were interested in the tribunal’s proceedings.
In their motion, the applicants argued that “with the huge and tremendous technological advances and developments in Nigeria and beyond, including the current trend by this court towards embracing electronic procedures, virtual hearing and electronic filing, a departure from the rules to allow a regulated televising of the proceedings in this matter is in consonance with the maxim that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done.
“Televising court proceedings is not alien to this court, and will enhance public confidence.”
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