INEC accuses LP of unnecessarily delaying tribunal

Kemi Pinero, the counsel representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has accused the Labour Party (LP) of unnecessarily causing delays in the presidential election petition tribunal.

During the proceedings on Wednesday, Livy Uzoukwu, the lead counsel for the LP, claimed that the INEC chairman’s office had failed to provide the party with requested documents that could serve as evidence.

Uzoukwu stated that the INEC chairman consistently evaded being served a subpoena for the provision of documents that could be crucial as evidence. Although he did not have a copy of the subpoena at that moment, Uzoukwu assured the INEC lead counsel that he would provide a copy in confidence, ensuring it reaches the chairman of the commission.

While Uzoukwu expressed his intention to send the subpoena to the INEC lead counsel, Pinero, representing INEC, dismissed his comments as a tactic to adjourn the proceedings.

Pinero refuted the existence of a subpoena, claiming that INEC had promptly responded to subpoenas issued by other parties and had no reason to neglect the LP’s requests.

Pinero said, “A subpoena was not refused. PDP served subpoenas and we have responded to that. It is clear that this is becoming a habit that they (LP) like to whip, it’s a pattern.”

He added, “Don’t use INEC as a whipping board, if they (LP) have nothing else to do they should just say it. We are not going to oppose your adjournment.

“This habit is showing that you’re only stalling the case. You’ve only called two witnesses out of the 50 witnesses you said you would call and it has been two weeks since tribunal started.

“I just want to make it clear that it is not correct that the INEC chairman refused to respond to the subpoena. The chairman of INEC has no interest whatsoever. So it’s very unfair and uncharitable.”