Allegation of Bias Rocks Presidential Election Tribunal
Apparently encumbered by an unbearable allegation of bias, the President of Court Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, has stepped aside as the Chairman of 2019 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal hearing the petition against the election of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The tribunal held that the petitioners have not placed enough materials of evidence before the court. Apparently jolted, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) submitted that the president of court of appeal will be biased in the matter.
Bulkachuwa voluntarily withdrew from participating in the hearing of the case shortly after the unanimous decision of the panel dismissing the application filed by the petitioner.
The ruling was delivered by a member of the panel, Justice Peter Ige.
She said that she took the decision for personal reasons and to avoid a situation where another female Justice will face same issues presented to the court, pointing out that the four man panel will continue with the case pending the announcement of the new chairman of the panel.
The remaining four members of the panel have continued with case.
The PDP and her Pesidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar on May 16, filed a motion asking an order to ensure that Justice Bulkachuwa be recused from further sitting of the tribunal or participating in the proceedings in the petition and be replaced by another Justice of the Appeal Court.
