The Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, stated on Saturday that he has prepared a group of 50 witnesses who will provide testimony and present evidence to support his claim that the 2023 presidential election was rigged against him.
During the ongoing proceedings of his petition challenging the victory of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Obi’s legal team, headed by Prof. Awa Kalu, SAN, informed the court about his intention to present his case over a period of seven weeks.
In his address to the court, Obi explained that he required this extended timeframe due to a few challenges he faced at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He said, “My lords, we still have a few hiccups at INEC because of the order that was made by this court on March 8, directing them to allow us to carry out a forensic examination of the BVAS. They have not allowed us.
“We are also waiting for some documents we requested from them.”
According to Roland Otaru, SAN, the lawyer representing President-elect Tinubu, it has been stated that he will need a span of nine days to summon a total of 21 witnesses (excluding expert witnesses) to defend his election win.
Similarly, Mr. Niyi Akintola, SAN, the counsel for the APC, has mentioned that the party intends to call seven witnesses (excluding those who will be subpoenaed) to testify in the case.
The APC said it would require only nine days to defend Tinubu’s election, adding that Obi and the LP only frontloaded statements of only three witnesses.
