Peter Obi responds to the FG delaying the 2023 census
The presidential election petition court has criticised the Labour Party (LP) and Peter Obi, its presidential candidate, for their lack of preparation in the lawsuit brought up to contest President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's victory.
Due to the illness of two crucial petitioner staff members, the court postponed the hearing of Peter Obi's suit against Tinubu on Wednesday. Resuming on Thursday was the hearing.
On Thursday during the resumed court session, Emeka Okpoko, a senior member of the petitioners' legal team, attempted to put electoral records before the court as exhibits.
However, it was asserted that the document hadn't been properly scheduled for court appearance and filed.
The hearing was therefore suspended for ten minutes, and the defence team was instructed to re-file the schedule of documents in accordance with the recommendations of the pre-hearing report.
However, the petitioners' legal counsel was still disorganised when the court reconvened.
Disappointed, the five-person court panel led by Haruna Tsammani urged the petitioners to ask for a postponement so they could properly compile their documents.
"Today's activities were a waste of time. One of the justices responded, "I think you underestimated the kind of job you have to undertake.
Awa Kalu, a senior member of the petitioners' team, responded that they wouldn't be accepting the adjournment suggested by the court.
"I took an adjournment yesterday, and I would not like to do that today," Kalu remarked.
After problems were fixed, the petitioners submitted electoral records (form EC8As) from six states.
Both the petitioners and the respondents would each call 83 witnesses in the petition filed by Obi and the Labour Party.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) listed five witnesses, Tinubu and Shettima listed 21 witnesses, the APC listed seven witnesses, and the petitioners stated that they will bring 50 witnesses.
The court set deadlines for Obi and LP to present their case from May 30 to June 23, INEC from June 24 to June 29, Tinubu and Shettima from June 30 to July 5, and the APC from July 6 to July 10.
The date for the adoption of final addresses is set on August 5. The petitioners have only so far called one witness.