On Wednesday, the Independent National Electoral Commission responded to the Labour Party’s legal team’s assertion that the commission had declined to answer to the subpoenas filed on them. The remark was made in response to the party’s candidate Peter Obi.
The All Progressives Congress candidate Bola Tinubu was proclaimed the presidential election winner, but the LP and Obi are contesting that decision.
The appeal had previously accused INEC of withholding access to some private documents that they needed to substantiate their claim that Tinubu had lost the election.
On Wednesday afternoon, the petitioners’ attorney, Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), moved to adjourn the hearing and again complained before the Presidential Election Petition Court that INEC had “consistently refused…the subpoena to produce documents” despite their efforts.
Kemi Pinhero (SAN), the attorney for INEC, reacted angrily to the claim that his client was recalcitrant, saying, “Don’t use INEC as a whipping boy.”
“It has become a habit for them to hunt out someone to whip,” Pinhero claimed. He has not discussed anything with A.B. Mahmoud that I am aware of.
“It can’t be true that the subpoena or the receipt were turned down.”
They frequently accuse INEC of being to blame or claim that it has refused to provide them access to materials.
“It is incorrect that the chairman’s office will decline to answer the subpoena. The INEC Chairperson has absolutely no interest. To INEC, it is unjust.
“They should just say it if they don’t have anything else to do today.”
Following their argument, the two parties were given the advice to relax their tense nerves by the Presidential Election Petition Court, presided over by Judge Haruna Tsammani.
The hearing was then continued when the court deferred the case to June 15.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s case and that of Atiku Abubakar, its candidate, was postponed by the tribunal until today (Thursday).
The results of the PEPC presidential election, which chose Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress as the winner, are also being contested by the PDP and Atiku.
