Tribunal asks Obi, Tinubu, INEC to reconcile documentary evidence

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has ordered the presidential candidate of the Labour Party LP, Peter Obi, President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to put their houses in order on documentary evidence to be used for and against the disputed election.

The tribunal specifically ordered them to reconcile all the documents and agree on the ones that would be objected to and others that would not be challenged.

Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani issued the order on Monday in Abuja following the presentation of heaps of documents brought to the tribunal by the parties.

Justice Tsammani, who is heading the tribunal, ordered the parties to be back in court with their report on May 10.

Tinubu is being represented by a legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, while another legal giant, Prince Lateef Fagbemi is standing for the All Progressives Congress, APC, to defend the election.

Obi, who is challenging Tinubu’s declaration on various grounds comprising alleged indictment for hard drug related matters and forfeiture of $460,000 to the United States of America (USA), was represented by Dr Livy Uzuoku, SAN.

At Monday’s proceedings, Uzuoku informed the court that necessary answers have been provided in the processes filed and exchanged with the respondents.

Olanipekun, who led about 36 Senior Advocates to defend Tinubu confirmed that his legal team has responded adequately to all issues raised against the declaration of Tinubu as winner of the February 25, 2023, presidential poll.

On his own part, Fagbemi informed the court that everything needed to be done on behalf of the All Progressives Congress APC to justify its victory at the poll had been done and ready for full blown arguments in the matter.

After taking arguments from the parties in the matter, Justice Tsammani fixed May 10 as return date for the parties.

Meanwhile, the Tribunal has fixed May 9 for continuation of pre-hearing session in the petition of Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and his party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, challenging the declaration of Tinubu as Nigeria’s President-elect.