Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, in the February 25, poll on Tuesday, asked the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, sitting in Abuja, for permission to summon Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, Secretary of INEC, Dr. Rose Oriarian-Anton, and a National Commissioner, Mr. Festus Okoye, to appear before the court as his witnesses.
He told the court that he wants to obtain subpoenas to compel the three men to appear before the court to give evidence and to also tender sensitive electoral documents.
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Atiku through his counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, told the court, “My lords, for the benefit of the respondents, so that they will not say that we took them by surprise, we want to state that it has gotten to the stage where we will summon the National Chairman of INEC, the Secretary of the Commission as well as the National Commissioner, to appear in court with documents.
“We had earlier indicated our intention to bring them as subpoenaed witnesses and we have gotten to that stage that they may be required to appear in this matter.
“We have already indicated that we want them here, but by Thursday, we will make the formal application,” he said.
Atiku and the PDP, are challenging the declaration of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, by INEC as winner of the February 25, poll.
