Court of Appeal has appointed Hon. Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani as Chairman Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT).
The now-constituted PEPT will adjudicate on all petitions filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its Chairman Mahmoud Yakubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and disputed winners of the 2023 Presidential Election, President-Elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President-Elect, Kassim Shettima.
Hon. Justice Haruna Simon TSAMMANI
The INEC on March 1 announced the following results:
Bola Tinubu/APC – 8,794,726 votes
Atiku Abubakar/PDP – 6,984,520 votes
Peter Obi/LP – 6,101,533 votes
Section 285 of the 1999 CFRN empowers the Tribunal to deliver judgement within a finite period.
285(5): An election petition shall be filed within 21 days after the date of the declaration of result of the elections
285(6): An election tribunal shall deliver its judgment in writing within 180 days from the date of the filing of the petition.
In lay terms, judgement must be delivered on or before September 17, 2023.
Hon. Justice Haruna Simon TSAMMANI
Born on 23rd November 1959, he hails from Tafawa Balewa LGA of Bauchi State.
Tsammani obtained his LL.B degree from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1982. He attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos for his BL in 1983.
He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Bauchi State on 17th September 1998 and later elevated to the Court of Appeal on July 16, 2010.
He served as the Chairman of the three-man panel that granted Obi and Atiku’s motions to serve Tinubu their petitions by substituted means.
He also presided on the VAT case between the Rivers State Govt and the FG.
He prepared the judgement in Ajimobi v Balogun, affirming the election of Kola Balogun as Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District in 2019.
He is ranked 12th on the Seniority list of the Court of Appeal.
