INEC Closes Defence In Peter Obi’s Petition, Tenders Documents

INEC Closes Defence In Peter Obi’s Petition, Tenders Documents

The sole witness of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC fumbled yesterday during his testimony at the 2023 presidential election petitions tribunal sitting in Abuja.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, INEC on Tuesday, closed its defence after calling its only witness to testify in opposition to the petition filed by the Labour Party and it’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

INEC’s lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), announced the closure of the first respondent’s case after its witness, Lawrence Bayode, a Deputy Director in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department of the commission, finished testifying.

The electoral commission similarly closed its case concerning the petition filed by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with Mr Bayode also testifying as its sole witness.

Atiku’s legal team took advantage of the INEC witness to tender the European Union ((EU) Observers’ final report, which was critical of the 25 February presidential election, as an exhibit in court on Monday.

Both Atiku and Mr Obi are by their separate petitions challenging the outcome of the 25 February poll, which had President Bola Tinubu as the winner.

Before calling Mr. Bayode to testify in Mr Obi’s case on Tuesday, the INEC lawyer tendered some documents that were admitted and marked as exhibits.