Nigeria’s presidential election petition tribunal will begin hearing the case in which the main opposition leader Atiku Abubakar is challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 15.
Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa will chair the tribunal consisting of a bench of five judges. The other four are Justices Abdul Aboki, Peter Ige, Joseph Ikyegh and Samuel Oseji.
A pre-hearing of the case was held at the Court of Appeal in the capital Abuja on Wednesday.
Atiku Abubakar filed a petition in March following the announcement of the result of the presidential election held in February.
Buhari, of the All Progressives Congress party, was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) defeating Abubakar by 15.2 million votes to 11.3 million votes in the delayed vote marred by violence, allegations of rigging and logistical challenges.
Days after rejecting the announcement declaring Buhari the winner, Abubakar, the candidate for the People’s Democratic Party indicated he would challenge the result of the election which he said was a sham.
The petition by Abubakar wants the result of the election reversed due to irregularities. A legal advisor to Atiku said he wanted his candidate declared winner after winning “massively” across the country.
President Buhari’s team dismissed the allegations insisting that the process was free and fair.
