Jonathan and PDP must answer allegation of rigging, says Tribunal

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15 July 2011

Jonathan and PDP must answer allegation of rigging, says Tribunal

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, yesterday said President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must answer allegation of rigging and other irregularities in the petition filed by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) challenging the result of the 2011 presidential election.

Presiding judge, Ayo Salami, dismissed the preliminary objection of Mr Jonathan and the PDP asking the tribunal to dismiss the petition because it was filed on Sunday, which was a non-working day, saying that the petition is competent and would be heard on its merit.

"The days of technicalities are over; the tribunal will hear and determine the petition on its merit," he said, adding that the petition is competent as the registry of the tribunal was open for business on Sunday in order to hasten the assignment of the tribunal as it has a life spam.