The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has opened its defence of its conduct of the February 25 presidential election before the Presidential Election Petition Court, sitting in Abuja.
This is coming after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Labour Party (LP), and their presidential candidates had successfully closed their cases penultimate on June 23 at the Court.
During Monday’s session, INEC’s lead counsel and former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Abubakar Mahmood, informed the Court of his plan to call three witnesses to counter the allegations of the Labour Party and its Presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Mr Mahmood argued that none of the witnesses was in court due to “domestic reasons” and he could not, therefore, open the case of the defence. He pleaded for an adjournment.
The lead counsel for the petitioner, Dr Livy Uzuoku expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the electoral body.
However, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), who stood for President Bola Tinubu, and Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, who represented the All Progressives Congress (APC), did not object to the request for adjournment by INEC.
The Chairman of the Court, Justice Haruna Tsammani, consequently adjourned the case until Tuesday, July 4.
