Atiku Seeks Adjournment for More Evidence against Tinubu
Alleges INEC not forthcoming with release of vital documents Court admits ward results from Obi in 17 states
Shortly after tendering electoral documents from 10 local governments in Kogi State, in proof of alleged irregularities and malpractices in the February 25 presidential election, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, sought a short adjournment to enable him tidy his presentation at the Presidential Election Petition Court ( PREPEC).
At the resumed hearing, yesterday, Atiku's lawyer, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, informed the court that the petitioners (Atiku and PDP) desired to tender certain sets of documents available to them as well as other documents from officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) "on which subpoena has been issued and other subpoenaed officials."
However, after tendering a Notice of Discountenance in Suit SC/CV/254/2023 between Attorney General of Adamawa and six others versus the Attorney General of the Federation and Form EC8A in respect of 10 local governments in Kogi State, the petitioners could not go on with the day's proceedings.
This followed observations and complaints from both the bench and the respondents on the manner the petitioners were presenting the said incriminating evidence.
Although the schedule of documents was filed along with the exhibits, the court observed that tendering such sensitive exhibits at piece meals would not be of any help especially in the areas of marking and numbering them.
The documents brought by Atiku and PDP were mainly documents used for the February 25 presidential election and involved 10 Local Government Areas of Ankpa, Dekina, Idah, Ofu, Olamaboro, Yagba East, Yagba West, Kabba-Bunu, Igalamela Odolu and Kogi were sought to be tendered by the PDP presidential candidate.
Responding, the senior lawyer blamed INEC for deliberately refusing to supply his client with the vital documents.
Jegede further disclosed that the petitioners had paid as much as N6 million for the supply of certified true copies of the exhibits, adding that INEC had not been forthcoming and cooperating as required and envisaged.
He explained that the petitioners, in order to save the situation had to subpoena top officials of
INEC to compel them to bring the required documents before the court, and therefore, pleaded with the court for a short adjournment to enable him approach the electoral body to do the needful.
The request for adjournment was not opposed by lawyers representing INEC, Tinubu and APC, following which the matter was adjourned till today, June 7.
In a related development, the PREPEC, yesterday, admitted ward results in 17 states of the federation tendered by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi.
The ward results (Form EC8B) were from the various local governments in the affected states of Adamawa, Bayelsa, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Sokoto, Delta, Ekiti, Imo, Kaduna, Oyo, Cross River, Edo, Akwa-Ibom and Lagos.
However, the respondents all indicated their resolve to object to the admissibility of the documents in their final address on a later date.
Speaking shortly after the day's proceedings, lawyer to Obi and LP, Mr Benbella Anichebe, SAN, noted that the petitioners would use today to tender the remaining exhibits that would prove that the presidential election was rigged against the petitioners, adding that they would call in expert witnesses after the tendering.
The trial continues today, Wednesday in the two petitions.