Obi, LP to challenge election results in only 18 states

Our reporter/ The Labour party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi will challenge the results of the February 25 election in only 18 states.

Emeka Okpoko, counsel to Obi and LP, made the disclosure while tendering documents at the resumed hearing of the joint petition filed by the party before the presidential election petition court on Thursday.

According to Okpoko, the petitioners did not intend to waste efforts in the states where they “decisively and uncontestedly won”.

But at the end of the days proceedings, the petitioners tendered certified electoral documents obtained from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in only six states – Rivers (15 LGAs), Benue (23 LGAs), Cross River (18 LGAs), Niger (21 LGAs), Osun (20 LGAs) and Ekiti (16 LGAs).

The documents mainly Forms EC8A, election results from polling units were admitted as exhibits by the court despite objections by INEC represented by Kemi Pinheiro, (SAN).

Adebayo Adelodun who represented President Bola Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shetima, also opposed the admissibility of the electoral documents.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) represented by Afolabi Fashanu also raised an objection while all respondents said they would reserve their objections until the final address.

Further hearing in the petition has been adjourned to June 2.