The Presidential Elections Petitions Court has approved the motion for subpoena by the Labour Party and its presidential candidate Peter Obi to obtain essential documents used by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the 2023 presidential elections.
Justice Haruna Tsammani, chairman of the five-man panel, on Tuesday at the hearing on Obi’s petition against Bola Tinubu said that the motion for subpoena has been signed and ready.
Livy Uzoukwu, counsel to Obi, had repeatedly lamented INEC’s refusal to release some critical documents, which is hindering his party from arguing its petition challenging the outcome of the presidential election.
The motion, dated March 2, 2023 lodged at the court read in part, “Motion Exparte brought pursuant to Section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999, Section 146 of the Electoral Act, 2002 and Paragraphs 47(1) 54 of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, 2002 and under the inherent power of the honorable tribunal.”
Uzoukwu, while fielding questions from journalists after the hearing session said his party would proceed and serve INEC the subpoena.