Breaking: 2019 presidential election trial officially begins as pre-hearing ends- Presidential election petition tribunal has concluded its pre-hearing - The actual hearing will commence on Thursday, July 4 - Former vice president and candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar, had earlier been given 10 days by the tribunal to prove his case that President Buhari did not win the February 23 election The presidential election petition tribunal hearing the petition file by the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, against the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari, during Saturday, February 23, has ended its pre-hearing. Legit.ng reports that the tribunal has fixed Thursday, July 4, for the commencement of the hearing of the petition filed by the PDP and its candidate Atiku. READ ALSO: EFCC investigates top Kwara civil servants over alleged N10bn fraud The tribunal, however, rejected the request made by Atiku and his party for opportunity to re-argue a motion by the All Progressives Congress (APC), seeking the dismissal of the petition. The tribunal had on June 11, ruled that the petitioners had no response to the motion by the APC, on the grounds that they failed to file a counter-affidavit. The chairman of the five member panel, Justice Mohammed Garba, refused Atiku’s motion in a ruling delivered by the panel on grounds that the application lacked merit. According to the ruling, the petitioners failed to provide cogent reasons the application should be granted. Justice Garba held that Atiku did not give any reason they failed to file a counter affidavit to APC’s objection to the petition. The tribunal also stated that Atiku and PDP decided as a matter of choice to file an address and objection without counter affidavit to the objection raised by APC in their motion of May 15, that was argued on June 11. It also disagreed with Atiku on the issue of fair hearing as his lawyers were present in court during proceedings but chose to conduct their petition in their own way. Consequently, Justice Garba held that the application for setting aside the proceedings of June 11, lacked merit, failed and accordingly dismissed. READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the tribunal granted Atiku 10 days to prove its allegation that the February 23 poll was rigged in favour of Buhari. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better 2019 Election: Atiku heads to court to contest election result, can he win? | - on Legit TV Source: Legit.ng - Presidential election petition tribunal has concluded its pre-hearing - The actual hearing will commence on Thursday, July 4 - Former vice president and candidate of PDP, Atiku Abubakar, had earlier been given 10 days by the tribunal to prove his case that President Buhari did not win the February 23 election Legit.ng READ ALSO: READ ALSO: Legit.ng NAIJ.com (naija.ng) Legit.ng