Election: PDP Knocks INEC For Rejecting Certified Documents At Tribunal

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday has lambasted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for objecting to the tendering of its certified documents at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. 

The party also called for the relocation of Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Ogun, Kaduna and Nasarawa States to Abuja following what it called  plots of sustained attacks to instill fear in the judiciary and derail the cause of justice.

The national publicity secretary of PDP, Hon Debo Ologunagba, who stated this yesterday during a press conference said INEC’s objection to its evidence in court amounts to seeking to frustrate the court and derail the cause of justice.

He said the events playing out at the Tribunals justifies PDP demand for live coverage of the tribunal proceeding as party members would have been watching at home instead of going to the premises.

Recall that the electoral commission had objected to a request by presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Mr Peter Obi and his party to tender exhibits from 18 states of the federation challenging the electoral victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The exhibits were mainly Forms EC8B used by the electoral body in collating results at the ward levels in the states during the February 25 presidential election.

Reacting however, PDP derided INEC’s action noting that all parties in the suit had agreed that any document certified by INEC can be tendered at the Tribunal.

He said “The APC and INEC to derail the cause of justice in the various Election Petition Tribunals across the country.”

Ologunagba, who noted that parties had paid monies to INEC to obtained the certified documents, said the commission’s action shows “it is complicit and determined to derail our democracy and such can only happen here were impunity thrives:” 

Accusing INEC of endangering democracy, the PDP noted that it was odd for INEC to cast aspersions on its own documents. 

On the relocation of Tribunal sittings in some states, Ologunagba condemned what he called “APC’s attack on PDP members at Governorship election petition Tribunal premises in Ogun, Nasarawa, Kaduna APC plots to sustain the attacks with the intention to instill fear on judiciary so as to derail the cause of justice.

“Demand the immediate transfer of the Ogun and Nasarawa Election Tribunals to Abuja for safety and guarantee of justice.”