Victor EzejaThe Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, on Thursday, presented Eric Ofuegbu, a Professor of Mathematics at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, as their 4th witness during proceedings at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja.
The petitioners also presented the ARISE News Director of Operations, Lummie Edevbie, as a subpoenaed witness and 5th overall witness for the petitioners so far.
Obi and his party, who are challenging the declaration of Bola Tinubu as the president in the February 25 presidential election, had previously called witnesses who testified before the court about cases of electoral irregularities during the election and also presented documents which were admitted as exhibits by the Presidential Election Tribunal after cross-examination by the defence counsels.
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According to Kenneth Okonkwo, one of the LP presidential campaign spokespersons and a member of the legal team, the petitioners tendered the documents which include Ofoegbu’s report of analysis of the presidential election results of Benue and Rivers states and blurred 18,088 polling unit results of the election.
The party also tendered a letter dated February 20, 2023, showing how Ofuegbu was engaged to carry out data analysis of the presidential election which was admitted in evidence.
Okonkwo further said they also presented a video recording of the interview the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, granted ARISE TV where he confirmed that BVAS must be used and that the results in the IREV portal uploaded from the polling units on Election Day must be identical with the EC8A given to Party agents on the Election Day.
Lead counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abubakar Mahmoud, however, told the Court that he had just been served the statement of the witness (Ofuegbu), on Thursday morning (today).
Mahmoud argued that bringing the witness on short notice leaves INEC’s legal team at a disadvantage.
He described the action of the counsel for the Labour Party as an ambush and urged the Court to step down the witness and give his team at least 48 hours to study the witness’ statement.
However, counsel to President Tinubu, Wole Olanipekun, SAN said he had no problem allowing the witness to give his testimony.
Chairman of the Court, Justice Haruna Tsammani, in a short ruling stated that in the interest of justice and a fair hearing, the witness would be led in evidence on Thursday.
He subsequently adjourned to Friday, 16th June 2023 for cross-examination of the witnesses.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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