Justice Bulkachuwa has been replaced on the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal with Justice Mohammed Garba of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal.
Garba who made his first appearance on Monday now presides.
Bulkachuwa, who is also the President of the Appeal Court, it would be recalled, on May 22, recused herself from the tribunal following an allegation of possible bias leveled against her by the leading opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
“I have allowed the ruling on the application urging me to recuse my membership of the tribunal to test the position of the law.
“Now that the application has been dismissed on account of incompetence, I hereby announce my withdrawal from the panel.
“The remaining four members of the panel would remain while step would be taken to appoint my replacement,” she Bulkachuwa.
Speaking during his first appearance on the panel, Garba pledged to expeditiously hear the petitions according to the rules.
He also sought the co-operation of all the parties involved.
