The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been accused of frustrating the efforts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to access vital electoral documents despite paying N6 million for the certification of the documents.
Atiku’s lawyer, Eyitayo Jegede, said this on Tuesday, June 6, at the resumption of proceedings at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja, Premium Times reported.
Jegede said INEC’s refusal to provide electoral documents to his legal team has made it difficult for them to prove Atiku’s case against President Bola Tinubu.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), had sought to tender some results sheets from 10 Local Government Areas of Kogi State, Ankpa, Dekina, Idah, Ofu, Olamaboro, Yagba East, Yagba West, Kabba-Bunu and Igalamela Odolu.
The five-member court panel chaired by Haruna Tsammani turned down Jegede’s move to substantiate their case against Tinubu by tendering some results sheets from Ankpa, Dekina, Idah, Ofu, Olamaboro, Yagba East, Yagba West, Kabba-Bunu and Igalamela Odolu Local Government Areas of Kogi State.
The tribunal said it was improper to tender such sensitive documents piecemeal.
Tsammani explained that the court would have difficulty marking and numbering the documents as exhibits.
Defending his case, the lawyer said INEC refused to supply the documents wholesale to Atiku’s legal team.
According to Jegede, INEC allegedly refused to make election records available after Atiku had paid N6 million as a cost to supply true certified copies of electoral documents
The lawyer disclosed that Atiku’s team was left with no option but to subpoena officials of the electoral commission to bring the required documents before the court.
Jegede sought a 24-hour adjournment to further request the necessary documents from INEC.
(Courtesy, excluding headline, PremiumTimes)
