The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday in Abuja began its defence of the February 25 presidential election on a shaky note, with none of its three witnesses present at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).
Contrary to the Court’s scheduled activity, INEC, which oversaw the contested election and was scheduled to present its case, appeared in court empty-handed.
Abubakar Balarabe Mahmood SAN, the party’s principal attorney and a former president of the Nigeria Bar Association NBA, notified the court of his intention to summon three witnesses to refute the claims made by the Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Peter Gregory Obi.
However, he bemoaned the fact that none of the witnesses were present in court because of domestic issues when he opened the defence.
The senior attorney requested an adjournment of his defence and begged the court to be patient with him.
Dr. Livy Uzuoku SAN, the lead attorney for Obi, expressed shock and surprise at the electoral body’s behaviour. According to Daily post.
He testified before the court that the INEC attorney should have gotten his consent before the procedures began.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) was represented by Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi SAN, and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was represented by Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN. Neither party objected to INEC’s request for the issue to be transferred to be heard on another day.
Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, the court’s presiding justice, subsequently set a new date for the election body as July 4.
Umaroo1 (
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