PDP to subpoena INEC chairman, Yakubu, as LP tenders 188 more exhibits at PEPT, Tuesday

Labour Party and its candidate, Peter Obi have tendered another 188 exhibits as they pile up more evidence to back their petition before the Presidential Election  Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) seeking to annul the victory of Bola Tinubu as proceedings resumed, Tuesday, at the court in Abuja.

This is also as the Lead Counsel to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, Mr Chris Uche SAN disclosed that he has subpoenaed the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, to testify before the court.

Tuesday’s proceedings at the PEPT featured the PDP and its candidate, Atiku taking the morning session, while the Labour Party and its flagbearer, closed the hearings with the afternoon session.

LP/Obi’s presentation in court led by Mr Peter Afuba SAN and Audu Anuga SAN had tendered INEC Forms EC40G-PU (Polling Unit) for 10 local government areas in Niger State (45 forms);  Osun (23 LGAs / 23 Forms) EC40G-PU; Edo (3 LGAs/17 Forms ) EC40G-PU; Edo (12 LGAs/ 12 Forms) EC40G-1; Edo (8 Reports Duly Certified by INEC) For Full State; Sokoto (5 LGAs/52 Forms) EC40G-PU; Sokoto(4 LGAs /15 Forms) ECG40; Sokoto (2 LGAs /2 Forms) EC40G-1.

In addition, INEC Results Viewing (IReV) reports from Adamawa, including (20 blurred and 21 not blurred); Ekiti (16), Rivers (19 presented but withdrawn by petitioners to be presented again tomorrow);  Akwa Ibom (25); Edo (13) were tendered.

As has become usual, all respondents objected to their admittance, but the court ruled to admit and tag as exhibits.

Meanwhile, earlier, Lead Counsel to Atiku, Chief Chris Uche SAN, who addressed the PEPT Justices, said he had also summoned the Secretary to the commission, Mrs Rose Omoa Oriaran-Anthony.

The petition resumed hearing with the lead counsel to Atiku informing the court that he was calling the first witness of the day, making him that the 19th witness to testify in the matter.

The 19th witness is a star witness, was one Mr Alex Adumter, a lawyer and politician as well as the National Coordinator of the PDP Situation Room.

However, members of counsel to the first respondent (INEC), the second and third respondents (Bola Tinubu/Shettima) and the fourth respondent (APC) raised objections to the admissibility of the witness’ statement on oath.

The court, however, admitted the statement on oath, while it reserved ruling on the matter till judgement day.

The star witness deposed to three statements on oath, which the court adopted.

The witness also tendered, along with his statement on oath, three videos of the INEC Chairman, INEC commissioner Festus Okoye, and the European Union (EU) election observer mission, as evidence.

Counsel to Atiku applied to the court for the video evidence to be played in the open court, an application the court granted.

One of the videos contained a news conference of the INEC Chairman in which he promised real-time transmission of election results and the non-use of incidence forms as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be the only device to be used.

Also tendered were copies of screenshots of the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV) where the results were posted.

Tuesday’s proceedings concluded by past 12pm, as Justice Haruma Tsammani adjourned in both hearings till Wednesday, June 14.