The Labour Party and its Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, on Monday, accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), of frustrating its petition challenging the result of the February 25 presidential election.
Jubrin Okutepa (SAN), a lawyer for the Labour Party, had told the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja about INEC’s lack of cooperation when they requested necessary documents.
“We have done everything within our power to resolve this, but we are bringing it to your attention in the hopes that you can help. Since May 29, these documents have been certified. We’ve written many letters outlining the supporting materials we required for our petition. But INEC did not provide for us”. he noted.
Okutepa asserted that the electoral umpire had refused to release the documents, despite the fact that his clients had since paid the appropriate sums INEC had sought for them.
But INEC’s lawyer, A.B. Mahmoud (SAN), insisted that that no petitioners was denied any document as all the documents that the subpoenaed witnesses are tendering are from INEC.
Meanwhile, earlier in the proceedings, the LP and Obi fielded their seventh witness.
The subpoenaed witness, Loretta Ogah, who was led in evidence by another member of the petitioners’ team, Patrick Ikweato (SAN).
The court admitted Ogah’s employment letter and resume as exhibits.
The respondents in the petition all informed the court that they were just being served, the witness deposition and would need to study the document in preparation for cross-examination.
Consequently, the five-man panel, led by Justice Tsammani, adjourned to Tuesday, 21st June, for the cross-examination of the witness and further hearing of the petition.
Tribunal: LP, INEC Disagree Over Election Document – Politics – Nigeria (nairaland.com)