…Witness tenders 18,088 blurred polling units results
Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, watched a video, tendered Labour Party, LP, and its Presidential candidate in the February 25, poll, Mr. Peter Obi, of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, speaking at Chatham House, London, where he promised that the presidential poll results would be transmitted real time at the polling units in the concluded general elections.
Also, one of the petitioners witness tendered 18,088 blurred polling units results.
Petitioners witnesses, a Professor of Mathematics from Nnnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa, Anambra State, Eric Ofoedu and an Arise Television, Lumie Idevbie, testified at the on-going hearing.
Obi and LP are challenging the declaration of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, by INEC, as winner of the poll.
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Obi and Labour Party in the 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.
Thursday hearing started about 9:40a.m., as LP brought a massive collection of evidence and 2 HD TVs to Play Videos
Obi/LP’s counsel appearance was led by Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, while the proceedings was led by Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN and P. Ikwueto, SAN.
First witness for the day and star witness and the fourth so far was is Prof Eric Ofoedu, a Professor of Mathematics from Nnnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa, Anambra State.
Respondents objected, stating that they were just served the Witness’ Statement, but the court decided he would be examined in Chief but cross-examined on Friday.
Three reports from the witness were presented under examination, objected by respondents , bit admitted by court and tagged respectively.
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What he tendered include 18,088 blurred polling units results, though opposed by respondents, but admitted by court
The second witness, Lumie Idevbie, was given a written statement on oath filed by the witness to be adopted as evidence. Respondents objected but it was admitted by court.
Also, flash drive brought by the witness containing video evidence was objected by respondents but admitted by court.
Respondents didn’t object to the video being played.
The 10minutes video was of INEC Chair, Prof. Mahmood speaking at Chatham House about elections and BVAS and his promise that the presidential poll results would be transmitted real time at the polling units in the concluded general elections.
Yakubu in the video also spoke on the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, which he noted would ensure that only accredited voted were allowed to vote, while the results would be transmitted to IreV, a platform created by INEC to provide real-time transmission of election results from polling units to the central collation centre.
Further hearing continues Friday at 12:49p.m.
