The Labour Party (LP) and it’s Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, Thursday, told the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that he discovered a total of 18,088 blurred result sheets uploaded to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
The fourth Petition witness, Eric Uwadiegwu Ofoedu, a Professor of Mathematics at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, told the court that he carried out an investigation and data analysis of the 2023 Presidential Election results on the IReV portal.
Led in evidence-in-chief by Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), Ofoedu told the court that he conducted an analysis of results from Rivers and Benue states respectively and a report on his findings.
Reacting, Counsel for INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) told the court that he was served the statement in court and he is handicap on how to go about the proceedings.
He asked the Petitioners to step down the witness and grant them time to look at the documents filed and prepare for Cross-examination.
In the same, Tinubu and Shetimma, through thier Counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Lateef Fagbemi aligned themselves with the submissions of Mahmood (SAN) but however suggested that the witness should adopt his evidence, while they cross-examine him later.
In his responds, Dr. Ikpeazu (SAN) apologized for serving the respondents late but told the court that they just obtained the Subpoena yesterday.
He requested that the witness be allowed to adopt his evidence in chief while the court determines whether or not Cross-examination will be done later.
The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led panel granted the request by the LP and deferred Cross-examination till tomorrow.
Ikpeazu informed the court about a letter of request written to the witness by the LP, on February 20, asking him to carryout data analysis for the presidential election, as well as the subpoena served on the witness.
The Senior Lawyer tendered all the documents as evidence in the petition before the court.
Counsels for INEC and Tinubu/Shetimma objected to the admissibility of the letter but did not object to the Subpoena, however, counsel for the APC objected to the Subpoena but not the letter.
Justice Tsammani admitted all the documents tendered by the LP as exhibits in the petition.
The LP then called their second witness, Lummie Edeveie, a staff Arise News TV to present evidence before the court.
Led in Evidence by Patrick Ikweto (SAN), Edeveie presented a flash drive containing a video before the court.
Mr. Ikweto tendered the flash before the court and applied that it be played in court.
Though the respondents objected to the admissibility of the flash drive as evidence, they did not object to it being played in court.
The application was granted by the court and the video was played on screen for everyone to watch.
The video contained the speech by the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu at the Chatham House where he spoke about the elections, giving assurances on the potency of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the IReV portals ahead of the general elections.
Justice Tsammani after admitting the flash as evidence adjourned till tomorrow, June 16 for further hearing.
