Presidential Election Petition Court Adjourns Hearing as INEC Fails to Present Defence

The adjournment was due to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) being unable to present its defence, as three crucial witnesses were absent.

This comes after the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Atiku Abubakar concluded their case on June 23, 2023, with 27 witnesses supporting their claims. Similarly, the Labour Party and Peter Obi wrapped up their case on the same day, presenting 13 witnesses and crucial documents as evidence, which the court admitted as exhibits.

The crux of the dispute revolves around the allegation that INEC failed to conduct the election in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act (2022). The petitioners argue that INEC had promised to transmit the presidential election results electronically through the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System and INEC Results Viewing Portal but failed to fulfill this commitment.

Additionally, the Labour Party and Peter Obi have accused INEC of electoral malpractices during the elections.