The Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi have tendered in evidence Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the presidential election results of six more states before the Presidential Election Petitions Court on Friday.
The results sheets contained in Forms EC8A were tendered form the bar by Obi’s lawyer Awa Kalu, and will be used to prove their alleged rigging and other malpractices during the presidential elections. The electoral documents were from Adamawa, Bayelsa, Oyo, Edo,Lagos and Akwa-ibom states.
On Thursday, Obi’s lawyer Emeka Okpoko had tendered CTCs of election documents across 115 Local Government Areas of Rivers, Benue, Cross River, Niger, Osun, and Ekiti states. The court admitted the documents despite opposition from all respondents in Obi’s petition.
At the resumed hearing on Friday, Kalu tendered Forms CTCs of forms EC8A of 21 LGA’s in Admawa state; 8 LGAs of Bayelsa, 31 LGAs of Oyo, 18 LGAs of Edo, 20 LGAs of Lagos and 31LGAs of Akwa-ibom state.
The five-man panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani admitted all CTCs of the result sheets in evidence despite opposition from all respondents in Obi’s petition.
Counsels to the Independent National Electoral Commission, the All Progressives Congress and president Bola Tinubu opposed the admissibility of Forms EC8A, and resolved t advance their reasons for their objection at the address stage.
Kalu further cited Pararagraph 40 of the 1st schedule to the electoral Act for CTCs which his team has so far tendered in its petition to be taken as read. But, counsels of all respondents withheld consent having opposed admissibility of the documents tendered by Obi’s counsel.
kalu, however said he is shocked and surprised the respondents are withholding their consent. Justice Tsammani told him to always expect surprises in a court room.
Kalu, then moved the motion for adjournment to Monday, if without prejudice to his petition. But, Justice Tsammani reminded Kalu that the court will seat Saturdays as stated in its pre-hearing report , and any day taken off will affect the number id days given his party for his petition.
Kalu, then moved the motion for adjournment till Saturday, but all respondents opposed the motion.
Counsel to INEC said, “I am concerned that your lordships are sitting for 9 hours everyday, let us use to tomorrow to do our exercises.”
Lateef Fagbemi, Counsel to Tinubu said,”It will not affect their time, even today you(Obi’s lawyer) don’t have documents, the ones you tendered were obtained far back as March. We plead to have tomorrow off, so that we can recoup.”
Kalu, then consulted with his team and prayed the court to adjourn till Monday. He said the adjournment will not affect its petition and tendering of documents.
Justice Tsammani therefore adjourned till Monday June 5 for continuation of hearing on Obi’s petition.
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