Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, Monday, turned down the request by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar; and his Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, for the live coverage of the petitions against Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, declared winner of the February 25 presidential poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The five-man Panel headed by Justice Haruna Tsammani, dismissed the request, saying it is lacked merit.
According to the panel, no regulatory framework or policy direction, permitted it to grant such application.
The panel ruled that “allowing cameras in the court room is a major judicial policy that must be supported by the law.”
Justice Tsammani ruled: “The court can only be guided and act in accordance with the practice directions and procedures approved by the President of the Court of Appeal.
“We cannot permit a situation that may lead to dramatisation of our proceedings.”
The court further held that the request was not part of any relief in the petitions before it, saying it was merely hinged on sentimental claim that it would benefit the electorates.
According to the panel, the petitioners failed to establish how televising the daily proceedings of the court would advance their case.
