ABUJA, June 20, 2023 – The Presidential Election Petition Court, presided over by Justice Haruna Simon Tsamani, witnessed another round of hearings today as the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and his party presented additional documents in support of their petition. Atiku Abubakar and the PDP are challenging the outcome of the February 25, 2023, presidential election.
Representing the petitioners, Counsel Chris Uche, SAN, submitted 14 batches of certified true copies of the voter’s register of the Federal Capital Territory as evidence. These documents were obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after a subpoena was issued to its chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu.
However, objections were raised by the respondents’ counsels. Abubakar Mahmud, SAN, representing INEC, as well as Wole Olanipekun, SAN, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), objected to the admissibility of the tendered documents.
Justice Haruna Simon Tsamani, leading the presidential election petition court, overruled the objections and admitted the documents as evidence.
Nevertheless, during the proceedings, the respondents’ counsels raised objections to the petitioners’ attempt to introduce additional certified true copies of documents obtained from INEC through a subpoena issued to the chairman of INEC on May 26, 2023. The respondents argued that the documents lacked proper scheduling, which rendered them inadmissible.
Furthermore, Abubakar Mahmud, SAN, representing INEC, informed the court that the petitioners had not yet paid the fees associated with the documents produced by the electoral body.
The court, acknowledging the concerns raised, adjourned the hearing to Wednesday, June 21, 2023. During the next session, the petitioners will be required to properly schedule the documents they intend to tender as evidence.
The presidential election petition court remains a crucial platform for Atiku Abubakar and the PDP to present their case, as they seek to challenge the presidential election results and seek redress through legal means.
