PETITION: PRESIDENTIAL TRIBUNAL STALLED OVER PDP'S UNSORTED DOCUMENTS

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The Peoples Democratic Party and Atiku Abubakar’s joint case was dismissed early on Tuesday due to the presentation of missorted documents to the Presidential Elections Court.

The All Progressives Congress’ Bola Tinubu was proclaimed the winner of the February 25 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The parties are contesting this result.

The All Progressives Congress, INEC, and President Tinubu are named as respondents in the lawsuit.

The lead PDP counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, submitted the certified true copies of the INEC voter registration for FCT in 14 batches during the case’s resumed hearing.

In addition to deferring judgment on the respondents’ objections, the court accepted them as evidence.

They also attempted to submit results from polling stations starting in Abia State’s EC8A series, but the court rejected their request.

The materials weren’t properly sorted, the court claimed.

Chris Uche, SAN, the PDP’s defense attorney, explained to the PEPC that it was challenging to obtain electoral materials, such as Form EC8As, from INEC in a timely manner.

Prior to the correct numbering by attorneys for parties and the court registry after the day’s proceedings were concluded, he requested that the court enter the documents into evidence.

He further stated that, in accordance with a subpoena served on the election umpire, INEC was required to organize the documents appropriately before bringing them to court.

Kemi Pinero, counsel for INEC, disputed Uche’s assertion.

He claimed that it was the responsibility of the parties to organize the electoral records that the commission had provided them with following an election.

Furthermore, he said that INEC officials from all over the nation had delivered the documentation the PDP wanted to submit.

Additionally, he claimed that even though the PDP had produced the documentation, it had not paid for their certification.

After some back and forth, the panel, which was presided over by Justice Haruna Tsammani, informed Uche that it was his legal team’s responsibility to compile a schedule of the documents after INEC sent them over in answer to a subpoena.

The petitioners informed the court following their talks that the attorneys had agreed to return the documents for arrangement and tendering by tomorrow, Wednesday.

The court adjourned the case to June 21 for the continuation of the hearing after confirming the respondents’ agreement.

Less than a week remains for the petitioners to complete their petition against Tinubu.