Presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, Mr. Peter Obi, and party in the February 25, poll, on Wednesday, tendered more local governments, LGAs IREV reports from Benue, Niger, Edo, Bauchi, Gombe, Bayelsa, Kaduna, as evidence in the on-going hearing of the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, sitting in Abuja, which were admitted by the court.
Obi and LP are challenging the declaration of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as winner of the poll.
Obi and Labour Party in the substantive petition are also contending that Tinubu was not rightfully returned as winner of the poll, aside not being qualified to run for the election in the first place.
Hearing began on Wednesday about 9:14a.m.
Obi/LP brought in a massive collection of evidence to the court. Present in court was LP Women Leader, Mrs. Dudu Manuga.
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Obi/LP counsel was led By Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, SAN. The party’s evidence presentation was led by Audu Anuga, SAN.
All documents presented were contained in the 8th & 9th schedule of the Obi/LP petition.
Evidence presented were IREV reports by LGA from Benue (21), Niger (25), Edo (17), Bauchi (20), (all the blurred for the state), Bayelsa (8), (all the blurred for the state), Bayelsa (Plain Sheets with ‘Cancelled’ written on them), Gombe(8) (all the blurred for the state) and Kaduna(21).
Also presented were supplementary Certified IREV for Kaduna(2 LGAs), blurred IREV download not linked to any LGA in Kaduna, raw IREV forms not linked to any LGA in Kaduna (five rolls)
Others include IREV Certificate of Compliance for seven states, (6 tendered, Akwa Ibom excluded); name of the other states not mentioned, BVAS and Certificate of Compliance for 28 States and FCT.
All the respondents in the case challenged the admissibility of all the exhibits in evidence, saying they would in their final address, adduce reasons behind their objections.
Argument later ensued on why INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has not responded to LP’s subpoena, where LP counsel said Yakubu was being evasive.
Further hearing continues Thursday by 9a.m.
Respondents in the matter are INEC, President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and the APC.
