Tribunal: INEC is frustrating our case – LP cries out
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been accused of impeding the hearing of the Labour Party’s petition before the presidential election court by Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate.
Obi and the LP are contesting the results of the February 25 election that elected Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the presidency of Nigeria.
Jibrin Okutepa, the petitioners’ attorney, asserted that INEC had refused to produce some papers necessary for the prosecution of their case during the petition’s resumed hearing on Monday.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Okutepa claimed the letters were sent to INEC with requests for proof-of-petition documentation, noting that the commission had acknowledged receipt of the letters.
He claims that the electoral authority also declined to accept the subpoenas that were given to them for service.
Abubakar Mahmoud, the counsel for INEC, refuted the assertion and asserted that the charge against the commission is unfounded.
Mahmoud said that he only ever heard from Livy Uzoukwu, the petitioner’s primary attorney, in one letter, which he said was swiftly answered the same day.
Okutekpa never approached the senior attorney, according to the senior attorney, to discuss any difficulties.
Uzoukwu, however, asserted that he had not received a reply to his letter.
He requested that the court issue an order compelling INEC to abide by the subpoena and turn over the requested records.
The justices pleaded for restraint as tempers flared and emphasized the importance of working together to learn the truth about the presidential election on February 25.
Justice Haruna Tsammani, the preeminent judge, postponed further hearings until June 20, 2023 after hearing from all parties.