***Documents emanated from Katsina, Kebbi, Borno, Jigawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Kaduna and partly Kano
***Counsels to INEC, President Buhari and the APC objects to admissibility of documents
By Jennifer Y Omiloli
Former vice president Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23, 2019 election, has tendered additional exhibits about 26,175 documents in support of his petition challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The documents were tendered on Friday, July 5, through his lead counsel, Dr Livy Uzoukwu (SAN) at the presidential election petition tribunal sitting at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
Read more: Tribunal gives Atiku 10 days to prove his case
According to report, the additional document which comprised mainly the result sheets and receipts for the documents’ certification by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), were in respect of the poll conducted in eight states, namely, Katsina, Kebbi, Borno, Jigawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Kaduna and Kano states.
The breakdown of the documents obtained from the eight states showed that, 3,378 came from Katsina, 2,106 came from Kebbi, 3,472 from Borno, 3,162 from Jigawa, 1,912 from Gombe, 3,539 from Bauchi, 3,335, from Kaduna and 5,271 came from Kano.
Read more: Tribunal grants Atiku’s request to petition Buhari
While tendering the documents, Uzoukwu told the tribunal that the remaining ones from Kano state would be brought on Monday, which is the next adjourned date.
The defendants, comprising the INEC, Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), all opposed the admissibility of the documents.
Counsel to INEC, Yunus Ustaz Usman, Buhari, Mike Igbokwe (SAN) and APC, Charles Edosomwan (SAN) told the tribunal that reasons for their objection would be made at the address stage of hearing in the petition.
Peter Obi, the vice presidential candidate of the PDP in the election, stood for the plaintiffs, while Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), stood for Buhari and Dare Oketade for the APC.
At the hearing on Thursday, July 4, Professor Ben Nwabueze (SAN), Nigeria’s foremost constitutional lawyer, appeared on behalf of the PDP and Atiku.
