Video clips of an interview with the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and the Commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, have emerged as crucial evidence in Peter Obi and Labour Party’s petition against the victory of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 presidential election. These video clips, which were submitted by Obi through a subpoenaed witness, are set to be played today at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).
During the initial proceedings on Friday, the PEPC faced resistance from the respondents’ lawyers when the petition’s counsel, Jubrin Okitepa, SAN, called a witness named Lucky Obowo-Isawode, a reporter and editor from Channels TV, who had been subpoenaed to produce the video clips. The respondents’ counsel, including Kemi Pinhero, SAN for INEC, Akin Olujimi, SAN for President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima, and Afolabi Fashanu, SAN for APC, objected to the adoption of the witness’s statement on oath, citing provisions in the Electoral Act.
Despite the objections raised, Okitepa countered and emphasized that a subpoenaed witness is competent to testify. He urged the court to overrule the objections, leading to the PEPC ultimately admitting the video evidence, which had been recorded on a flash drive.
The subpoenaed witness had presented live interviews with INEC Chairman Yakubu and Mr. Festus Okoye as evidence. However, Olujimi objected to playing the video, arguing that the flash drive had not been served on the respondents, which he believed would violate the principle of fair hearing.
In response to these objections, the court, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, adjourned the hearing until today. This adjournment allows for the playing of the video evidence and further proceedings in the petition.
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