According to Vanguard, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has vigorously opposed an appeal by Labor Party presidential candidate Mr.Peter Gregory Obi and his party to launch bids against the election of President Bola Tinubu in 17 states across the federation.
However, the statement released by INEC on Tuesday said, we know Obi lead but his request for tender of the exhibit will never reclaim his mandate
The paperwork, Form EC8B, used by the electoral commission in compiling county-level results during the February 25 presidential election, declined a tender by INEC, which passed the paperwork to Obi and the Labor Party.
INEC, represented before the Presidential Election Petitions Court by senior Nigeria SAN Counsel Steve Adeni, told the court that he would substantiate his objections at the addressing stage of the case.
Mr.Benbella Anachebe, Obi’s Attorney and Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, said at the introduction of the documents that the exhibits had been taken from INEC custody.
In addition, Anachebe stated that the documents were officially checked by the electoral commission before being sent to his clients.
In addition to INEC, which handled the disputed election, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), who were declared election winners, also objected to the exhibits being included.
However, according to the Pre-Hearing Report and the Counsel Agreements, the reasons for the objections are to be reserved at the address stage of the petition hearing. Adamawa, Bayelsa, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Ondo, Sokoto, Ekiti, Delta, and Niger are the states where the exhibits were advertised and accepted. Others are Lagos, Kaduna, Imo, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, and Edo.
