Victor EzejaThe Presidential Election Petition Court has rejected the application for live streaming of court proceedings of the presidential polls.
The petitioners, Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party had requested the court to grant permission for the transmission of the proceedings
In their separate applications, Obi and Atiku argued that the live transmission of the proceedings had become necessary due to the public interest and concern generated by the outcome of the 25 February presidential election.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), its presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who are respondents in the ongoing election petition trial, had in their responses to the application for live broadcast of the tribunal proceedings, opposed it, saying it the court is in for a serious business and that the media coverage of proceedings is controlled across the world. They added that allowing media houses to transmit proceedings live would cause distraction and defeat the solemn atmosphere of the court.
After listening to arguments from the parties, the court reserved the ruling for (Monday) today.
At the resumed session today, the five-member panel of justices of the tribunal, in a unanimous judgment, ruled that the request hinges on a policy decision that can only be made by the judiciary.
Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Haruna Tsammani, held that the applications lacked merit and therefore should be dismissed.
Justice Tsammani pointed out that the applications, which were hinged on sections 36(3) and 39 of the Nigerian Constriction 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 explained that a fair hearing involves both parties in the case and provides an equal opportunity to present their cases before the court and not to dramatise the trial by 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.
The chairman said it is uncertain what could be the implication of a live broadcast of the proceedings, adding that “it is better for the avoidance of the trial by ordeal of live cameras in court.”
The tribunal sitting in the Court of Appeal, Abuja judicial division equally said it does not have the power to make the policy for live streaming of the proceedings as the power lies with the administrators of the Judiciary.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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