The Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, sitting in Abuja, has admitted the evidence Form EC8A from six states to solidify the petition by Peter Obi, against the victory of President Bola Tinubu.
The PECP accepted this form from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), from 23 local councils of Benue State, yesterday.
The presiding judge, Justice Haruna Tsammani, who chaired the five-man panel admitted the form in evidence.
Background
The Jurist had reported how the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi in his petition is challenging the outcome of the election that produced Bola Tinubu.
Read also: APC asks tribunal to dismiss Obi, LP’s petition
The proceeding
The court admitted the forms accordingly, and they were marked as Exhibit PC (1-23).
The form that was tendered by the Counsel for Obi and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Emeka Okpoko, Form EC8A for 23 councils in Niger State was marked as Exhibit PE (1-23).
While that of Rivers for 15 of the 23 councils of the state, was marked PD (1-15).
The court also marked Obi’s form for Osun State, which challenged the election in 20 councils as Exhibit PF (1-20).
Ekiti State’s form for the 16 councils was marked as Exhibit PG (1-16).
Counsel to 1st to the 4th respondent disagreed with the court action, while they announce their intention to provide bases for their disagreement at the final written address.
The PECP also directed Obi’s lawyer to arrange their form sequentially to save court time.
Witness testimony
A collation officer named Joe Agada, from the Ofarashi polling unit in Ogugu, Kogi State, prayed to the court to consider his written statement on oat as evidence.
Agada who was first to climb into the witness box claimed to have had the opportunity to thoroughly observed activities at the poll during the election period.
He said some collation agents were forced to sign election results because INEC officials threatened that they would not be issued a copy of the result until they signed.
An accountant from Abeokuta, Sunday Adekunle, who also witnessed at court said that there were violations of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
While a former House of Representative member, Nzoma Nken Abonta from Abia State, further claimed that the figure released was not accurate as there were gaps submitted by INEC.
Court decision
The court subsequently adjourned the case till today, June 2, so as to continue the hearing.