The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, situated in Abuja, has admitted five pieces of evidence presented by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Atiku Abubakar, challenging the outcome of the presidential election held on February 25, 2023.
Prior to the adoption of the evidence, the counsel for the respondents opposed the submission of documents numbered 1 and 1A, reserving their objections for later.
It is worth recalling that the respondents had filed an application seeking to nullify certain paragraphs in the petitions filed against them.
Adeniyi Akintola, representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), raised concerns about the quantity of the documents.
The judges, however, accepted the documents that were presented before the tribunal.
During the presentation of evidence by PDP and Atiku Abubakar’s counsel, Eyitayo Jegede, it was argued that the documents should be treated as “seen and read” exhibits, rather than being read aloud in open court.
INEC invoked paragraph 18C4, stating that the documents cannot be considered as having been read.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) declared that their consent was not given to the petitioners regarding the presented documents.
The PDP then applied to the bar for a true certified copy of Form EC8E from Kaduna and Kogi states, which contains the scheduled documents.
INEC opposed all the documents listed under number 4 but did not object to number 5, acknowledging that they do not contest the documents related to the following local governments in Kogi State: Olamaburo, Ofu, Omala, Okehi, and Ajaokuta.
The APC objected to all documents under number 4 and, in reference to number 5, adopted all the local governments in Kogi State mentioned earlier.
The ongoing hearing session has been adjourned until tomorrow, June 1, 2023.
