INEC Unable To Open Defence Over Witness’ Absence At Tribunal
INEC, which is the first respondent in the petition by the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was scheduled to open its defence today.
By Emmanuela Ekele
A witness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was absent at the Presidential Election Petitions Court (PEPC) on Monday, setting back the electoral body’s commencement of defence at the ongoing proceedings.
INEC, which is the first respondent in the petition by the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was scheduled to open its defence today.
The petitioners are challenging the emergence of President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 election.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud, told the court that he planned to call three witnesses within three days, but the one slated for the day’s hearing was unavailable due to some domestic issues.
He subsequently applied for an adjournment till Tuesday to enable the witness to attend court.
Counsel to other parties did not object to the request by INEC’s counsel.
The Chairmen of the panel, Justice Haruna Tsammani, subsequently adjourned till 9 am on Tuesday for the hearing.
INEC is also expected to open its defence at 2 pm in the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Presidential Election Petition Court Resumes Sitting After One Week Break
INEC's first defence witness slated for this morning could not make it to court.
By Emmanuella Ekele
The Presidential Election Petition Court has resumed sitting in the Nation’s Capital for the respondents- INEC, the APC and its presidential candidate, to open their defence in the petitions of the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party, who are challenging the victory of President Bola Tinubu.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was the first to lead the path by calling three witnesses in the Labour Party’s petition.
Unfortunately, their first defence witness slated for this morning, called to register his unavailability due to domestic urgency, that’s according to the Counsel to INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud.
He asked that the case be adjourned until tomorrow July 4th, a stand which was not opposed by counsels to the Labour Party- Levi Uzoukwu, APC- Lateef Fagbemi and Tinubu- Wole Olanikpekun.
The court therefore rose to reconvene at 2pm for the defence to open its case in the PDP petition.
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