By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Nigeria’s Presidential Election Petitions Court sitting in the country’s capital Abuja, on Monday dismissed opposition’s application for live transmission of proceedings.
Mr. Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of Labour Party had urged the court to allow television stations cover the proceedings live.
Both candidates are challenging Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who was declared winner of the February 25 presidential poll in the West African largest population.
They argue that the transmission of the proceedings had become necessary due to the public interest and concern generated by the outcome of the election.
In a unanimous ruling on the interlocutory applications on Monday, the five-member panel of justices held that the request hinges on policy decision which can only be made by the judiciary.
In the lead ruling by the chairman of the panel, Justice Haruna Tsammani held that the applications lacked merit and ought to be dismissed.
The chairman observed that the applications, which were hinged on sections 36(3) and 39 of the Nigerian Constition and Paragraph 19 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, 2022, which borders on fair hearing, were outside the provisions of the concept and outside the claims brought by the petitioners for the determination of the court.
He said fair hearing involved hearing both parties and providing equal opportunity to present their cases before the court and not to dramatise the trial through installing cameras in the courtroom.
“The mere sentimental claim that it (live broadcast of proceedings) will benefit the voters has no utilitarian value on the matters before the court,” he said.
Justice said nobody could predict the implication of live broadcast of the proceedings, adding, “it is better for the avoidance of the trial by ordeal of live cameras in court.”
