Counsels for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abubakar Mahmoud, President-elect, Wole Olanipekun and the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lateef Fagbemi have opposed the live coverage of proceedings at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal on Thursday resumed hearing in the suit by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
The court is presently hearing the application for live coverage of proceedings.
Counsel for Atiku and PDP, Chris Uche, said the motion dated May 5 and filed on May 7 praying for an order of the court to allow the televising of the proceedings is important given the ‘monumental national significance’.
This goes along with prayers for an order of the court directing the modalities of its implementation.
He said it won’t make the proceedings look like a circus but will be solemn and serious business and everyone will get to see the proceedings objectively.
Meanwhile, counsels for the INEC and the APC disagreed with the motion.
INEC counsel, Abubakar Mahmoud said that bringing cameras into the courtroom will defeat the solemn atmosphere that the courtroom is known for.
He insisted that they want to do their work in a solemn atmosphere without having cameras on their faces.
Mahmoud asked the court to reject the application for live coverage as it was unnecessary and uncalled for.
Counsel for the President-elect, Wole Olanipekun in his argument, found it surprising that the application will be brought by the petitioner in the first place, stating that they are in court for serious business.
He added that the court is not a stadium, neither is it a theatre or circus.
Also, counsel for the APC, Lateef Fagbemi in his argument, said televising the proceedings, is similar to BBNaija (Big Brother Nigeria).
He added that in jurisdictions where live streaming is done, certain elements of the proceedings are not captured.
Fagbemi further stated that there is a distinction between a trial for the public and a trial by the public, if this is done, other tribunals will be seeking the same order.
The court reserved ruling in Atiku’s application for live broadcast of proceedings.
The court will deliver its ruling on Friday, May 19 on the same day that a similar application by the Labour Party (LP) will be heard.
