The Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday produced some of the documents which the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday called for at the instance of the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
The tribunal of five judges led by Justice Mohammed Garba had on Wednesday ordered INEC to produce the documents by noon on Thursday.
This followed the complaints by the petitioners that the subpoenas issued and served on INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, and the commission’s Residential Electoral Commissioner in Zamfara State had not been complied with. The tribunal had adjourned the case till Friday, but the counsel for the PDP and Atiku, Chris Uche (SAN), attended the Thursday’s proceedings scheduled for other petitions filed by the Hope Democratic Party and the Peoples Democratic Movement to ensure INEC’s compliance with the order.
Around the time the five-man panel was to recede to chambers to write a ruling in respect of PDM’s petition, Uche informed the bench of his intention in court on Thursday.
In reaction, Justice Garba asked for an update from INEC’s lawyer, Yunus Usman (SAN). Replying, Usman informed the tribunal that the “documents had been substantially produced”.
“It is a very tedious task, but we have to obey the court’s order,” Usman added. The tribunal then promised to “deal with the issue” when it returns to deliver its ruling.
As the tribunal rose, officials were seen bringing the documents tied up in 18 boxes into the courtroom. The petitioners are challenging President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory at the February 23 poll.
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