Petitions with electoral tribunal should be resolved before a President is sworn-in - Olisa Agbakoba

The former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba, has said that all petitions with the electoral tribunal should be resolved before the inauguration and swearing-in of a new president in Nigeria.

Agbakoba said this while speaking on Arise TV today April 5. According to him, most of the political arguments going on in Nigeria will be solved when the petitions before the tribunal are heard and sorted out accordingly. He further stated that it will be better if these issues are sorted out before the 29th of May, as it may cause more political arguments in the country if a president is sworn-in when there are unsolved petitions before the tribunal.

“In order to balance out justice, could we please get these petitions, if they can be resolved before that date?” as he urged the Electoral Tribunal to complete the process as soon as possible.

I can understand Peter Obi’s concern and Datti Mohammed’s outburst if Mr. Tinubu is being sworn in at Eagle’s Square and the petition is hanging in the court of appeal. Where we strike the balance is to give our best possible shots to finish the petitions,” he said.

Agbakoba opined that resolving of the petitions before the Inauguration day will take away the questions of the legitimacy of the president who will be sworn-in.

The former NBA president said that the policy that gave electoral candidates 180 days to file a petition was too long.

“The fact that the constitution prescribes a time limit doesn’t mean that time limit must actually run,” he said.