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JUST IN: INEC explains kicking against tendering own documents against Tinubu’s election
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shed light on why it kicked against the tendering of its documents as exhibits by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Gregory Obi, to establish his petition against the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The electoral body had on Thursday vehemently objected to the admission of several documents brought to the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) by Obi and the Labour Party for the purpose of tendering them as exhibits to justify their petition.
However, at Friday’s proceedings, INEC lawyer Kemi Pinheiro SAN, told the court that the electoral body kicked against the tendering of certified true copies of the documents, mainly election result sheets, because Obi and the Labour Party did not challenge the conduct of the election in the areas relating to the documents.
Pinheiro explained that issues were not joined in the local government areas where the result sheets were sought to be tendered, adding that it was wrong of the petitioners to go beyond the areas where the election is disputed.
He accused Obi of trying to confuse issues by bringing result sheets where he did not dispute the election and the returns adding that the presidential candidate ought to have guided himself with the pleadings in his petition.
According to INEC, the local government areas unlawfully smuggled into proceedings of the court are totally strange to the petition and cannot stand in the face of the law.
INEC’s explanation offered while lawyers were ordered to make an appearance, however, drew the anger of the Presiding Justice of the Court, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani.
Justice Tsammani held that it was wrong of INEC’s lawyer to have smuggled the explanation into the proceedings because all parties in the petition had agreed to offer such explanations at the address stage of proceedings.
Pinheiro, in return, apologized to the court but said that he was forced to speak up on the objections because of the deluge of criticisms suffered in the media by his client.
The senior lawyer hinted that social media users had turned his client to an object of ridicule without finding out reasons for objections against the admissibility of the documents.
Meanwhile, the court has admitted as exhibits form EC8A from 21 local government areas of Adamawa and eight local government areas of Bayelsa States and parts of Rivers and Niger State as tendered by Obi and the Labour Party.
Peter Afoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, is conducting proceedings for Obi and LP.
Earlier, hearing in the petition of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) was further shifted to June 9 by the court to enable lawyers to obtain the May 26 judgment of the Supreme Court that would determine whether the petition still has life to sustain it or not.
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President Tinubu Cheers US, Nigerian troops elimination of ISIS top leaders, Lauds Trump (Video)
“I commend the personnel involved on both sides for their professionalism and courage, and I look forward to more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the nation.
President Bola Tinubu, strengthened by the US military Command vows more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the nation.
President Tinubu was reacting to Saturday’s overnight successful joint counterterrorism operation carried out by Nigerian and United States forces against an Islamic State hideout in the Lake Chad Basin which resulted in the elimination of a wanted Islamic State senior leader, Abu-Bilal Al-Manuki, also known as Abu-Mainok, alongside several of his lieutenants.
In a State House statement issued on Saturday by Bayo Onanuga, the president’s aide, Tinubu said “Our determined Nigerian Armed Forces, working closely with the Armed Forces of the United States conducted a daring joint operation that dealt a heavy blow to the ranks of the Islamic State.
The president stated that early assessments confirmed that the strike targeted the terrorist leader’s compound in the Lake Chad Basin.
Tinubu however expressed appreciation to the United States for supporting Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts and advancing shared security objectives.
The president also thanked Donald Trump for what he described as leadership and unwavering support in the operation, saying, “I extend my sincere gratitude to President Trump for his leadership and unwavering support in this effort.”
He further commended military personnel from both countries for their professionalism and courage during the operation.
“I commend the personnel involved on both sides for their professionalism and courage, and I look forward to more decisive strikes against all terrorist enclaves across the nation.
Watch Video below:
News
Many Trapped in Abuja Collapsed Building , 3 Dead (Video)
Eyewitnesses said that about 70 workers were on site at the time of the incident at the building located around Gaduwa Estate in the Gudu area.
Tragedy struck in the Durumi 3 area near Gudu Market, Abuja, after a three-storey building under construction collapsed on Saturday moring leaving at least three persons dead.
Eyewitnesses said that about 70 workers were on site at the time of the incident at the building located around Gaduwa Estate in the Gudu area.
Three bodies had been evacuated as of the time of filing this report, while rescue efforts were still ongoing to save other victims trapped beneath the rubble.
Officials and emergency responders were seen at the scene carrying out search-and-rescue operations as anxious residents gathered around the area.
The cause of the collapse is yet to be officially confirmed at the time of this report.
Watch video below:
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President Tinubu returns to Lagos ahead of APC primaries tomorrow (Video)
Tinubu’s aircraft touched down at about 7:12 p.m. at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
• President Tinubu chats with African business leaders during the African CEO Forum in Nairobi, Kenya.
President Bola Tinubu on Friday arrived in Lagos after a three-nation visit to France, Kenya and Rwanda.
Tinubu’s aircraft touched down at about 7:12 p.m. at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.
A statement issued by his special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said that the president was received by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Deputy Governor, Femi Hamzat; Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa; and other government officials.
President Tinubu, while in France, met with global investors, emphasising transparency and fiscal discipline and explaining the rationale for the swift implementation of the bold economic reforms his administration has instituted.
Watch Video below:
President Tinubu Cheers US, Nigerian troops elimination of ISIS top leaders, Lauds Trump (Video)
Many Trapped in Abuja Collapsed Building , 3 Dead (Video)
President Tinubu returns to Lagos ahead of APC primaries tomorrow (Video)
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