The Presidential Election Petition Court, (PEPC), has turned down request by two petitioners to allow its day-to-day proceedings on petitions seeking to nullify the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, to be covered live on television.
The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five member panel dismissed as lacking in merit, the application which was brought before it by candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP) that are challenging the outcome of the presidential election that held on February 25.
The court held that no regulatory framework or policy direction, permitted it to grant such application.
It held that allowing cameras in the courtroom is a major judicial policy that must be supported by the law.
“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 dramatization of our proceedings.”
Besides, the court 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.
It maintained that the petitioners failed to establish how televising the proceedings would advance their case, adding that such live broadcast would not have any utilitarian value to add to the determination of the petitions.
, has turned down request by two petitioners to allow its day-to-day proceedings on petitions seeking to nullify the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, to be covered live on television.){kind=link}