By Kamsi Anayo
The Presidential Election Petition Court, on Friday, admitted in evidence, results of six States, presented by the Labour Party, and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to support their claims challenging the victory of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Obi and the Labour Party had on Thursday tendered exhibits in six States comprising Rivers, Benue, Cross River, Niger, Osun and Ekiti states.
During the Friday’s proceedings, Obi and Labour Party, tendered exhibits in six other states including Adamawa, Bayelsa, Oyo, Edo, Lagos, Kogi and Akwa Ibom states.
The exhibits, comprised forms EC8A, which was used on the February 25 disputed presidential election and certified by the National Electoral Commission (INEC) as true copies of the original documents and were admitted in evidence as exhibits.
The fresh exhibits indicated that forms EC8A were admitted in 21 Local Government Areas of Adamawa, 8 in Local Government Areas of Bayelsa, 31 Local Government Areas of Oyo, 18 Local Government Areas of Edo, 20 Local Government Areas of Lagos and 31 Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom.
But Tinubu, had since been inaugurated as the President for winning the election, while the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress and the Indepedent National Electoral Commission which conducted the election opposed the admissibility of the documents adding that they would give reasons for their objection at the final stage of address.
During the proceedings, Peter Obi through his lead counsel, Mr Peter Afoba, (SAN), told the Court that they have exhausted the documents at their disposal for the day and prayed the Court to consider the admitted documents as read but the request was opposed by all respondents in the matter.
Afoba further explained to the court that he had a schedule for more evidence which they desired to render before the court.
He continued with evidence of the election results from Rivers and Kogi states, and presented the certified true copies of INEC election results from six local government areas (LGAs) in Rivers State as evidence.
But counsels to the first, second and third respondents also objected to the admissibility of the evidence.
The court admitted the documents as evidence, while awaiting the arguments of the respondents who opposed to the admissibility of the documents.
Obi’s lead counsel, apart from evidence from Rivers and Kogi states, also presented additional certified true copies of Election results from Bida LGA of Niger state, and 21 LGAs in Adamawa state.
Obi and his party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, were present for continuation of the hearing at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.
Recall that on Thursday’s proceeding, Labour Party candidate tendered results from 115 local government areas, as part of his evidence to back his claims, but the respondents opposed the evidence tendered by the Labour Party candidate.
The LP and its candidate are challenging the victory of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 election.
Tinubu declared the winner with 8,794,726 votes while his closest rival, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar (PDP), garnered 6,984,520 votes, as Obi finished the race with 6,101,533.
Presiding Justice of the Court, Justice Haruna Tsammani, however, adjourned further hearing in the petition till Monday, June 5.
