A witness for the Labour Party on Thursday accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of an attempt to sabotage the 2023 presidential election.
In a similar vein, the lawyers for President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) , Akin Olujinmi (SAN) and Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), did not oppose the submission made by the LP and its candidate, however, they objected to results the opposition party said it obtained from polling units, wards, local governments and states.
LP’s counsel, Ananaba informed the court that they are ready to tender forms EC40G series, which are forms for materials distribution across states, at the next hearing.
He said they will be responding to the reasons made for objecting and not objecting to the documents tendered before the court.
PDP Calls witnesses
Earlier, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) called its subpoenaed witnesses to address the tribunal.
When the first witness Egwumah Friday came forward, there was no objection from the lawyers of the All progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The witnessed prayed that the court adopts his submission, following this prayer, the lead counsel for President Bola Tinubu, Mr Wole Olanipekun (SAN) objected to the motion for adoption of the PDP’s witness’ submission on the grounds that the party didn’t list him as part of their witnesses before the tribunal began.
Mr Olanipekun urged the tribunal to reject the application of Chris Uche (SAN) Counsel to the PDP, to admit the submission of the witness.
The counsel to INEC, A.B Mahmood (SAN) and that of the APC, Lateef Fagbemi also agreed with Wole Olanipekun counsel to the president.
However, the five man panel of judges led by Justice Haruna stood down briefly for ruling on the matter.
Upon their return, the panel of judges allowed the subpoenaed witness to proceed with submissions.
Under cross examination by INEC’s Counsel, Friday Egwumah said as an adhoc staff he was able to successfully transmit the results for the Senatorial and House of Representatives elections, but he could not transmit that of the presidential elections even after repeated attempts.
The PDP called its second subpoenaed witness for the day, Grace Timothy, but counsels to Bola Tinubu, APC and INEC, all objected to her submission.
However, Justice Haruna allowed her to give her submission before the court.
Again under cross examination, Grace Timothy who was a presiding officer in Plateau State said she also faced the same challenge of uploading the results for the presidential elections to the IREV Portal.
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