Presidential Election Petition Court: Witness’s absence stalls opening of INEC’s case
By Edith Nwapi
Abuja, July 3, 2023
The absence of a witness on Monday, stalled the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from opening its case in the petition filed by the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi and his party.
LP and Obi are challenging the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
When the petition was called, lead counsel to the INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN told the court that, the first defendant has three days to defend the outcome of the Feb. 25 presidential election.
He informed the court that the electoral body has three witnesses to present in its case and regretted that the witness slated to give evidence on Monday was not in court and asked for an adjournment until Tuesday for INEC to open its case.
Other respondents are Vice president Kashim Shettima and the APC.
He informed the court that the electoral body has three witnesses to present in its case and regretted that the witness slated to give evidence was not in court.
He asked for an adjournment for INEC to open its case in the joint petition by Obi and his party against Tinubu’s election.
The petitioners ‘ counsel Livy Uzoukwu, SAN expressed sadness, however did not object to INEC ‘s application for adjournment.
Other respondents counsel, Wole Olanipakun, SAN for Tinubu and Shettima and Lateef Fagbemi, SAN for APC also did not object.
The five-member panel presided over by Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned until tomorrow for the INEC to open their case.
