Presidential tribunal admits LP’s cyber results meta data

The Presidential Election Petitions Court has admitted Meta data of results of polling units presented by a cyber security expert of the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi. 

The cyber security expert, Dr Chibuike Ugwuoke, also presented the URI of a letter by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s Commissioner, Festus Okoye titled: “Alleged Plot To Abandon The Transmission of Polling Unit Results To INEC Portal” dated November 16, 2022.

Lawyers to INEC, the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Bola Tinubu, VP Kashim Shettima all objected to the admissibility of the documents.

However, the five-member panel of justices presided by Justice Haruna Tsammani admitted the documents as exhibits.

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Thereafter, LP, through its lawyer, Peter Afuba (SAN) also tendered certified reports of total number of registered voters and PVCs collected in 32 states, certificate of compliance for Edo State, supplementary IREV reports for three local governments in Benue, 12 in Lagos and one in Gombe states.

LP’s subpoenaed witnesses, which includes an NGO observer, Onoja Oloko Sunday of the Women and Child Rescue Initiative and Kefas Iyah, an INEC ad hoc staff, testified that while the National Assembly results were easily transmitted, the presidential results could not.

When cross examined, the witnesses admitted that every other process in the election went on smoothly.

 They also admitted that they were subpoenaed in their personal capacity.

APM’s final addresses fixed for July 14

The court has also slated July 14 for final written address in the petition by the Allied People’s Movement (APM) in the petition challenging the presidential election of February 25.

The chairman of the panel, Justice Tsammani, slated the date after the conclusion of the petition by parties.

Earlier, the APM and its presidential candidate, Chichi Ojei called their witness, Aisha Abubakar to testify in the matter.

Abubakar, who is the welfare officer of the political party, testified that Tinubu ought to be disqualified on account of the double nomination of his running mate, Kashim Shettima on July 14, 2022 while he was still the senatorial candidate of the party in Borno Central.

However, under cross examination by INEC counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), she is not aware that Shettima and APC submitted a letter dated July 6, 2022 informing INEC of his withdrawal as senatorial candidate.

Responding to a question by counsel to APC, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) about the judgment of the Supreme Court dismissing a similar suit by the PDP, the witness said she was aware of the judgement.