PEPC admits more evidence in Obi’s petition against Tinubu
The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has admitted Certified True Copies (CTC) of electoral documents as evidence in the petition filed by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi, against the election of President Bola Tinubu.
During the proceedings, Obi’s legal team led by Awa Kalu, SAN informed the court of their intention to present CTC of the documents from 18 states, and one of LP lawyers, Chief Emeka Opoko, SAN conducted today’s proceedings.
But due to time constraints, Obi and his party tendered certified electoral documents obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in only six States.
The documents mainly Forms EC8A , election results from polling units were admitted as exhibits to be used to establish their alleged riggings and other malpractices during the election.
The result sheets tendered during the proceedings were from Local Government Areas in Rivers, Benue, Cross River, Niger, Osun and Ekiti states.
Among the forms EC8As presented to the court, the petitioners initially intended to present the bundle of forms for 21 Local Government Areas in Rivers State, but during their presentation, they could only reconcile and tender 15 of the forms.
The court noted this inconsistency.
The respondents in the petition, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice, Kashim Shetima who are 2nd and 3rd respondents and represented by Adebayo Adelodun SAN in the petition challenging their declaration as winners of the election objected to the admissibility of the electoral documents.
They stated they would provide their reasons for objection in their final written addresses.
Interestingly, INEC represented by Kemi Pinhero SAN which issued the documents and certified them as genuine, dramatically announced its decision to object to admission of the documents.
Similarly, the All Progressives Congress, APC represented by Chief Afolabi Fashanu SAN argued that it would raise objections against the documents.
Presiding Justice of the Court, Justice, Haruna Simon Tsammani admitted the documents from the 15 Local Government Areas in Rivers State as evidence and marked them as Exhibits PB1 to PB15.
The court also admitted electoral forms from 23 Local Government Areas in Benue State, marking them as Exhibits PT1 to PT23, while results from 18 Local Government Areas in Cross River State, marked as Exhibits PD1 to PD18.
On Niger state, Obi tendered Forms EC8A from 23 LGAs and they were admitted in evidence as Exhibits PE1 to PE 23, as well as that of 20 LGAs in Osun state which were marked as Exhibits PF1 to PF 20.
Meanwhile, Justice Tsammani led panel subsequently adjourned further hearing in the petition to Friday, June 2.
