The Labour Party, LP and its Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, have lamented the refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu to accept court summons to appear and produce documents before the Presidential Election Petition court, PEPC.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, counsel to Obi, Dr Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, told the court that the chairman of INEC Prof. Yakubu has continuously refused to accept subpoenas to produce the election documents despite efforts by the court bailiff to serve him.
However, counsel to the INEC Kemi Pinhero, SAN argued that it was untrue that the subpoena cannot be served on the INEC Chairman adding that it has become a pattern for the Petitioner, Obi, to look for a weeping boy.
He argued that a similar subpoena from Atiku Abubakar and his party was served on INEC without hitches.” It’s unfair and uncharitable”, for Obi’s counsel to make such a claim adding that if there is any copy of subpoena, there is a legal department to receive the document.
Pinhero, SAN advised that if Obi’s counsel wants to ask for an adjournment they ( respondents) are not opposing it.
Counsel to Obi insisted that it was very clear that the INEC chairman can not be served with the copy of the subpoena, adding that, the bailiff said the service was refused and it can be verified from the court.
Obi’s Counsel , however, said that he had contacted INEC lead counsel Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN who has graciously requested for an extra copy of the subpoena which he promised to send to the INEC chairman.
He said the issue would be resolved by counsel to the INEC by the end of the day’s proceedings.
Earlier, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, on Wednesday tendered additional exhibits against the declaration of President Tinubu as winner of the election.
The exhibits, which are mainly downloads of INEC results viewing portal , I-Rev, reports certified by INEC as true copies.
The result’s reports used by INEC during the election, were admitted by the panel as exhibits to be used to determine the legality or otherwise of Tinubu’s return as Nigeria’s leader.
Obi, through Audu Anuga , a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) tendered I-Rev reports from Seven states and Bimodal Voters Accreditation System, BIVAS Machine, reports from 28 States including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
A break down of the exhibits tendered including the download of I-Rev reports from 21 Local Government Areas of Benue State, 25 local government of Areas of Niger State, 17 Local Government areas of Edo State, 20 local government of areas of Bauchi State, 8 local government Areas of Bayelsa State, 8 Local Government Areas of Gombe State and 21 Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.
Obi also tendered supplementary I-Rev reports from two Local Government Areas of Kaduna State and certificate of compliance for six states.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Election Petition Court has adjourned hearing on the petition till Thursday.
N.O
