Tribunal steps down Obi’s case over inconsistencies

Spread the love

The Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi resumed the presentation of their case on Thursday before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) by tendering certified true copies (CTCs) of polling unit result sheets (Forms EC8A) from six states.
Although the petitioners legal team was led by Awa Kalu (SAN), the tendering of the documents was done for the petitioners by Emeka Okpoko (SAN), a member of the team.

The proceedings, however, came to an abrupt end when, rather than tender more documents, Okpoko handed the microphone back to Kalu, who sought an adjournment, before the end of the four hours allocated, on the grounds they had exhausted what they had for the day and would prefer to return the next day.

The petitioners had an uncoordinated start at the commencement of proceedings on Thursday, prompting the court to suggest that they seek an adjournment to enable them to put their house in order.

But, Kalu declined, noting that having sought an adjustment the previous day, he would prefer not to ask for a postponement of proceedings on Thursday.

Still unable to coordinate the documents they planned to tender, the court then elected to suspend proceedings for 10 minutes, after about 40 minutes had been wasted, to enable them to file the appropriate schedule of documents they planned to tender.

While the petitioners’ lawyers struggled to have a coordinated start, Obi, his running mate, Baba Datti- Ahmed and some of their supporters, who were in court, watched helplessly from the gallery.