Presidential Tribunal: Peter Obi tenders results of 8 more states in evidence

Mr. Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), continued presenting his case before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in Abuja on Monday. He submitted additional results from eight states as evidence to challenge the outcome of the presidential election held on February 25. CONTINUE READING>>>

The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel admitted the results from Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Delta, Kaduna, Imo, Ondo, Sokoto, and Kogi as evidence. The results from these states included data from various local government areas (LGAs) and were marked as exhibits.

In Ebonyi, Obi and the LP tendered results from 13 LGAs as Exhibits PP 1–PPP 13, while Nasarawa results from the same number of LGAs were admitted as Exhibits PQ 1–PPQ 13. Additionally, results from 25 LGAs in Delta were marked as Exhibits PS 1 to PR 25, and results from 23 LGAs in Kaduna were marked as Exhibits PS 1 to PS 23.

The petitioners also presented results from 26 LGAs in Imo as Exhibits PT1–PT26, 18 LGAs from Ondo as Exhibits PU1–PU18, and 7 LGAs in Sokoto as Exhibits PV1–PV7. Lastly, they tendered results from 21 LGAs in Kogi as Exhibits PW1–PW21. CONTINUE READING>>>

Obi, who secured the third position in the presidential election won by President Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), announced his intention to present more exhibits on Tuesday to support his claim of election rigging.

During the proceedings, Obi’s lawyer, Mr. Patrick Ikweto, SAN, requested permission to present a fresh application on the next adjourned date and apologized for serving the schedule of documents late to the respondents.

However, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, representing the APC, complained about not being served with the fresh schedule on time and urged the court to apply the pre-hearing report strictly. The court had previously mandated all parties to file and serve their documents at least 24 hours before the hearing date.

The court adjourned further hearings on the petition until Tuesday.

In their joint petition, Obi and the LP argue that President Tinubu was not the valid winner of the election and was not qualified to participate in the contest. They also challenge Tinubu’s eligibility, citing a previous indictment and fine by the United States District Court for an offense involving dishonesty and drug trafficking.

The petitioners allege that the election was marred by corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act, 2022, claiming that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) breached its own regulations and guidelines.

They seek various declarations from the court, including the cancellation of the election and the conduct of a fresh election in which Tinubu, Shettima, and the APC shall not participate. They also request the court to declare Tinubu’s return as the winner unlawful and unconstitutional, or alternatively, to void the election for non-compliance with electoral laws.

The proceedings continue as the petitioners present their case and seek remedies for their allegations. CONTINUE READING>>>