Victor Ezeja
The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has adjourned further proceedings in the petition by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, against the outcome of the February 25 election, to Thursday, June 1.
The adjournment was at the instance of Obi and his party.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelAt the resumed hearing on Wednesday, May 31, the Lead counsel to the petitioners, Prof Awa Kalu, SAN sought the adjournment over the issue of ill health involving two secretariat staff of the petitioners.
Kalu, who described the legal experts as being part of the engine room of his legal Secretariat, said the development affected their plan to tender vital documents before the court to prove their allegation that the presidential election was rigged in favour of President Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).
He told the court that he had before the sitting commenced, informed President Tinubu’s lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, about the development.
Responding, counsel to President Tinubu, Chief Olanipekun, SAN, told the court that he was not opposed to the request for an adjournment.
Counsels to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the APC, Abubakar Mahmood, SAN, and Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, respectively, said they were equally not opposed to the request.
Ruling on the request, Justice Tsammani granted the application and adjourned the petition to Thursday, June 1.
READ ALSO: Election Petition: Court Admits Obi’s First Witness Exhibit of Tinubu’s Alleged Drug Case
Obi had on Wednesday, 30 May, called his first witness to testify before the court.
Obi’s first witness, Mr. Lawrence Nwakaeti, who informed the court that he is from Ihiala in Anambra state, identified a document relating to a court proceeding in the United States pertaining to Tinubu’s alleged indictment in a drug-related-case.
The court admitted the document in evidence and marked it as Exhibit PA- 5.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
