Legal representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) objected to the admission of one of the commission’s press statements at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday.

Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), a lawyer on the Labour Party and Peter Obi’s legal team, while taking witness statements of one Dr Chibuike Ugwuoke, a cyber security expert, in court, presented a press release the expert referred to in his statement.

This press release was signed by Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, and published by the commission on November 11, 2022.

It was titled ‘Alleged Plot To Abandon The Transmission Of Polling Unit Results To IReV Portal’.

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When Ikwueto asked the expert if he “also attached a document that states the alleged plot to abandon the transmission of polling unit results to IReV Portal, signed by Festus Okoye,” Ugwuoke said he did.

Reacting, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), INEC’s counsel, got up and said, “We object to this document and would state our reasons at final address.” All other respondents also objected.

The release they objected to is a document that remains published on the INEC social media pages.

PRESS RELEASE
Alleged Plot to Abandon the Transmission of Polling Unit Results to IReV Portal

“The Commission has repeatedly reassured Nigerians that it will transmit results directly from the polling units as we witnessed in Ekiti and Osun States’ Governorship elections.” pic.twitter.com/cYMNPF5XPw

— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) November 11, 2022

The respondents prayed the court to grant them the grace to cross-examine the witness on Thursday after going over his statement.

Obi and the Labour Party have until Friday to conclude their case against the victory of President Bola Tinubu.

Respondents in the suit include Tinubu, Kashim Shettima, the Vice President, INEC and the All Progressives Congress (APC).