On Monday in Abuja, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commenced its defense of the presidential election held on February 25, starting on an unsteady footing as none of its three witnesses were present at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).
In contrast to the Court’s planned proceedings, INEC, the body responsible for conducting the contentious election and expected to present its defense, arrived at the court premises without a single witness.
Abubakar Balarabe Mahmood SAN, the principal lawyer representing the party and a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), notified the court about his intention to summon three witnesses to refute the accusations made by the Labour Party (LP) and their Presidential candidate, Peter Gregory Obi.
Nevertheless, he expressed his regret that none of the witnesses were present in court as they had personal commitments, which prevented him from initiating the defense.
The experienced attorney earnestly appealed to the court for understanding and requested an adjournment of his defense.
In contrast, Dr. Livy Uzuoku, SAN, the chief counsel representing Obi, conveyed his astonishment and disbelief regarding the behavior exhibited by the electoral commission.
He informed the court that the lawyer from INEC should have consulted him beforehand, prior to the initiation of the legal proceedings.
However, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi SAN, who acted on behalf of the APC, did not oppose the request made by INEC for an adjournment of their plea, requesting a postponement of the case.
Following that, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, the presiding judge of the Court, rescheduled a fresh date of July 4th for the Independent National Electoral Commission.
NigeriaNow (
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