Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa has recused herself from the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal Panel.
The Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had petitioned the Tribunal asking Bulkachuwa to disqualify herself as a member and head of the five-man tribunal.
In the ruling, the panel dismissed the petition for lacking in merit but Justice Bulkachuwa said she has chosen to recuse herself based on personal grounds.
The petitioners, who are challenging President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in the February 23 presidential poll, had alleged that Bulkachuwa would likely be biased against them in her handling of the hearing of their case.
The allegation was due to her family ties to top members of the All Progressives Congress, the party, whose victory they are challenging.
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…Justice Bulkachuwa was commended by counsels to the @OfficialPDPNig, @OfficialAPCNg for her decision to recuse herself from the panel.#Bulkachuwa #Nigeria @OfficialPDPNig @OfficialAPCNg #Presidentialappealpanel @FabulosGloria
— RootsTv (@rootstvnigeria) May 22, 2019
…a new judge to replace Justice Bulkachuwa in the panel will be announced in due course but the 4 man panel of Justices will continue the proceedings till her replacement is appointed.#Bulkachuwa #Nigeria @OfficialPDPNig @OfficialAPCNg #Presidentialappealpanel @FabulosGloria
— RootsTv (@rootstvnigeria) May 22, 2019
..even though the panel dismissed the petition by @OfficialPDPNig and @atiku, Justice Bulkachuwa said she chose to recuse herself from the panel on personal grounds.#Bulkachuwa #Nigeria @OfficialPDPNig @OfficialAPCNg #Presidentialappealpanel #Presidentialtribunal @FabulosGloria
— RootsTv (@rootstvnigeria) May 22, 2019
Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa has recused herself from the Presidential Election Petition Panel.#Bulkachuwa #Nigeria @OfficialPDPNig @OfficialAPCNg #Presidentialappealpanel #Presidentialtribunal pic.twitter.com/BEPIFI7lfw
— RootsTv (@rootstvnigeria) May 22, 2019
Correspondent, @FabulosGloria gives situation report as the Panel was yet to reconvene.#Bulkachuwa #Nigeria @OfficialPDPNig @OfficialAPCNg #Presidentialappealpanel #Presidentialtribunal pic.twitter.com/kKwfE7WmNH
— RootsTv (@rootstvnigeria) May 22, 2019
….counsels to the parties, journalists and party supporters waiting for the panel to resume sitting.#Bulkachuwa #PresidentialAppealPanel #Nigeria @OfficialPDPNig @OfficialAPCNg @FabulosGloria pic.twitter.com/bunjjCi3rA
— RootsTv (@rootstvnigeria) May 22, 2019
….the Court was yet to resume sitting hours after it went on recess.
Justice Bulkachuwa had informed of her readiness to rule on whether to recuse herself from the Presidential Election Tribunal or not.#Bulkachuwa #Presidentialappealpanel #PDP @FabulosGloria— RootsTv (@rootstvnigeria) May 22, 2019
#UPDATE
The Lead Counsel of the @OfficialAPCNg, Wole Olanipekun in the course of the arguments advised the Lead Justice in the Presidential Appeal Panel, Zainab Bulkachuwa to recuse herself from the panel so as to save her reputation#Bulkachuwa #Presidentialappealpanel #PDP— RootsTv (@rootstvnigeria) May 22, 2019
#UPDATE
The Court has gone on recess Till 2pm when Justice Bulkachuwa will rule on Whether to recuse herself from the Presidential Election Tribunal or not.#Bulkachuwa #Presidentialappealpanel #PDP #APC #Presidentialtribunal #Buhari #Atiku @fabulosgloria— RootsTv (@rootstvnigeria) May 22, 2019
….the Court returned back to session at 11:35am.
At the moment the court is hearing the application from the Hope Democratic Party.#Bulkachuwa #Presidentialappealpanel #PDP #APC #Presidentialtribunal #Buhari #Atiku @fabulosgloria pic.twitter.com/mGg7AjZyiW— RootsTv (@rootstvnigeria) May 22, 2019
The @OfficialPDPNig application has been called however the party’s counsel has asked for a 30min stand down so the court is on recess for 30min.#Bulkachuwa #Presidentialappealpanel #PDP #APC #Presidentialtribunal #Buhari #Atiku @fabulosgloria
— RootsTv (@rootstvnigeria) May 22, 2019
#UPDATE
The Hope Democratic Party is also asking the Tribunal to compel the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Mohammed not to swear-in @NGRPresident @MBuhari on May 29…..#Bulkachuwa #Presidentialappealpanel #PDP #APC #Presidentialtribunal #Buhari #Atiku @fabulosgloria pic.twitter.com/eVm9CLRcyp— RootsTv (@rootstvnigeria) May 22, 2019
#UPDATE
Pro @atiku and @OfficialPDPNig protesters are in court with different placards to demand the removal of Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa from the Presidential Appeal Panel.#Bulkachuwa #Presidentialappealpanel #PDP #APC #Presidentialtribunal #Buhari #Atiku @fabulosgloria pic.twitter.com/flXYHUzoCg— RootsTv (@rootstvnigeria) May 22, 2019
Correspondent @FabulosGloria will be live at the Appeal Court for hearing of the @OfficialPDPNig application against Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa.
Stay on @rootstvnigeria for per second updates.#PDP #APC #Presidentialtribunal #Buhari #Atiku pic.twitter.com/QGgVaunYGx— RootsTv (@rootstvnigeria) May 22, 2019