The court proceedings began promptly at 9 am, with notable presence from the Labour Party and Peter Obi, who brought forth a substantial collection of evidence that caught everyone’s attention.
Peter Obi, along with Dr. Datti Ahmed, Julius Abure, and the DG of the campaign, represented the Labour Party in court. Awa Kalu SAN led the appearance of the Labour Party counsel.
During the proceedings, Forms EC8A from various states such as Benue, Rivers, Cross River, Niger, Osun, and Ekiti were presented as evidence. However, the respondents, including INEC, Tinubu & Shettima, and APC, opposed the presentation of all these forms, except for Niger State, where they mentioned that document sorting in Suleja was still ongoing.
The day’s proceedings concluded at 1 pm and were adjourned until tomorrow, June 2nd, 2023, at 9 am.
Overall, the court session was marked by the substantial evidence presented and the ongoing legal battle as both sides presented their arguments.
AwaKalu – Emeka Okpoko will conduct the proceedings.
INEC – I wish to draw your attention to the fact that whilst registering appearances, the petitioners just served us a schedule contrary to the court order.
LP: My lord we already filed a schedule and served on all the respondents. This one is just a guide which was not filed
Court: INEC do you have the documents served
INEC: yes.
Court: So what’s the issue? Proceed.
LP: We wish to tender documents from Benue.
Court: So you wish to tender these documents for all 36 states?
LP: No my Lord , just about 18 states
Court: So you will tender documents on Form EC8As, EC8bs and EC8cs ?
LP: Sorry my Lords
Court: They are all certified copies of the 23 Local governments of Benue state?
(Court Stood down for 10 mins)Â
LP: We ask for permission of your Lordships to start with Rivers. We want to tender from the bar, the electoral documents and we’ll see No of EC8AS, Wards, Remarks and Exhibit space for your Lordship to mark.
Court: We will spend the whole 3 weeks tendering documents at this rate because you are doing them local government by Local government of 18 states?
LP: My Lords permit me to tender them state by state then instead of by Local governments.
Court: How many Local governments in Rivers state do you wish to tender documents from?
LP: 21 states.
Court: Can you list the states?
LP: they are:
1. Andonni
2. Emohua
3. Ahorda West
4. Asaritoru
5. Kana
6. Ikwerre
7. Okpokpo
8. Okpoko/Mporul
9. Tai
10. Gokana
11. Akokutoru
12. Etche
13. Okugbolo
14. Omuma
15. Oba-Edenma Ndoni
16. Degema
LP: There is a mix up and for now we will tender 16 documents.
INEC: My Lord we oppose all the documents being tendered. This is in the motion we filed attacking paragraphs of the petition.
2/3rd Respondent: We are objecting to these documents being tendered and well advance our objection at the fullness of time.
4th Respondent: We shall be objecting to their admissibility and thereby state our reasons at the time of our address.
Court: The registrar checked the Documents and there is no Opobo LGA.
Just Opobo-Nkoro . Making the LGAs 15?
LP: Yes we can confirm that My Lords. 15 LGA.
Court: The Form EC8As for the 15 local governments are hereby ADMITTED and marked EXhDB 1-15 respectively.
LP: May we be permitted to move to Benue state my Lords?
Court: Yes.
LP: We have 23 LGAs for Benue State We seek to tender:
1) Gwer East
2. Ogbadibo
3. Kwande
4. Buruku
5. Konshisha
6. Agatu
7. Makurdi
8. Ohimini
9. Ukum
10. Gboko
11. Oju
12. Katsina-Ala
13. Logo
14. Vandeikya
15. Otukpo
16. Tarka
17. Guma
18. Obi
19. Apa
20. Ushongo
21. Ado
22. Gwer West
23. Okpokwu
They are 23 and we seek Tender Them My Lords!
In Response to the Request by LP to Tender for 23 LGAs in Benue State
Court: Any oppositions?
INEC: We oppose the tendering of these documents and we challenge their admissibility and we will set out written in our reasons which are in line with a motion we filed.
2/3rd Respondent: We oppose to this application to tender these documents
4th Respondent: We also oppose and the reasons will be canvassed in the final address.
Court: They are hereby ADMITTED and marked Exh PC1 – PC23.
LP: Thank you my Lords. May I then PROCEED to Cross River state with 18 LGAs?
LP: For Cross River State:
1)Obubura
2. Odukpani
3. Boki
4. Yala
5. Bekwara
6. Calabar Municipal
7. Obudu
8. Obanliku
9. Calabar South
10. Ikon
11. Abi
12. Yakurr
13. Baise
14. Logoja
15. Bakasi
16. Etung
17. Akpabuyo
18. Akamkpa
Court: Any Objections?
INEC: We object to the tendering of these documents for reasons we shall set out in our written address.
2nd & 3rd: We also oppose to the tendering and shall advance the reasons in our final written address
4th: We vehemently oppose to the admissibility of the documents and we will advance our reasons in our final written address.
NB: 1st- INEC
2nd & 3rd – Tinubu & Shettima respectively
4th – APC
Court: They Are Hereby ADMITTED
Forms EC8As from the 18 LGAs are hereby marked as Exh PD1 – PD18!.
Niger State with 21 LGAs are Now Being Presented!
LP: We Have 21 LGAs We need to Tender
1. Agwaie
2. Agwara
3. Bida
4. Borgu
5. Bossu
6. Chanchaga
7. Edati
8. Gbako
9. Gurara
10. Katcha
11. Kontagora
12. Lapai
13. Lavun
14. Magama
15. Mokwa
16. Pailoro
17. Rafi
18. Shiroro
19. Suleja
20. Tafa
21. Wushishi
Court: Any Objections?
For Niger State:
Court: Any oppositions?
INEC: We are opposed to the tendering of these documents and we challenge it’s admissibility.
2nd & 3rd: We are still sorting out documents from Suleja so we are not yet sure whether we oppose or not.
4th: We strongly oppose the admissibility of these documents and shall advance reasons in our final address stage.
Court: Form EC8as of 23 LGAs in Niger state are hereby ADMITTED & marked as Exh PE1- PE23!.
Documents for Osun State with 20 LGAs
LP: Thank you my Lords we proceed to number 5 on the List which is Osun state.
We have 20 LGAs my Lords
Court: List them
LP: 1. Aiyedape
2. Ife South
3. Egbedore
4. Odo-oti
5. Irebodu
6. Obokun
7. Boluwaduro
8. Aiyedire
9. Iwo
10. Daiboribe
11. Ede South
12. Oriyade
13. Ifedayo
14. Lowunda
15. Orolu
16. Ife North
17. Irewole
18. Olaoluwa
19. Ishokwo
20. Ijobo
Court: Any Oppositions
INEC: We oppose and shall challenge in our written address and at the appropriate time, challenge their admissibility.
2nd & 3rd: Object to the admissibility and shall advance reasons in final address.
4th: We oppose the admissibility of these documents sought to be tendered for reasons which shall be canvassed during address stage.
Court: Form EC8As of 20 LGAs in Osun state are hereby ADMITTED & Marked as Exh PF1-PF20 respectively!
Ekiti state with 16 LGAs
LP: Thank you my Lords. I am now at Ekiti state. Here there are Form EC8as of 16 LGAs.
Court: List them
LP: 1. Ekiti West
2. Ikole
3. Ijero
4. Ikere
5. Ishe-Oru
6. Oye
7. Ekiti East
8. Moba
9. Irebodu/Ifelodu
10. Ilejemeji
11. Ado-Ekiti
12. Ido/Osi
13. Emure
14. Efon,
15. Gdonyin
16. Ekiti Southwest
That’s all for Ekiti.
Court: Any oppositions?
INEC: We oppose to the application and challenge the admissibility of those documents and we will advance our reasons.
2nd & 3rd: We oppose the admissibility of these documents and will give reasons in our final address.
4th: We oppose and object to the admissibility of the documents being sought to be tendered and shall state the reasons in our final address.
Court: Bundles of documents for 16 LGAs in Ekiti are hereby ADMITTED as evidence and marked as Exhibit PG1-PG16.
Court: Bundles of documents for 16 LGAs in Ekiti are hereby ADMITTED as evidence and marked as Exhibit PG1-PG16.
LP: It’s 1pm and time allotted for today is finished. May we pray to continue our presentation tomorrow?
Court: Can you finish with the EC8As today?
Lp: We have exhausted all the documents we brought in today. We measured with the time to be used.
Court: Any opposition to adjournment?
All parties: No.
Court: Court is hereby adjourned till tomorrow. 2nd June, 2023 by 9am for continuation of hearing.
Credit: Pearls
