The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal said it rejected 10 of the 13 witnesses produced by Labour Party Presidential candidate Peter Obi.
On Wednesday, Justice Haruna Tsammani, who took over to give judgment on Obi and LP’s substantive petition, stated this. Tsammani stated that Obi summoned 13 witnesses, who testified as PW1 through PW13, adding that only three witnesses’ statements under oath were presented with the petition.
According to the Justice, the other ten witnesses were subpoenaed and their sworn witness statements were only filed after the hearing began.
Tsammani ruled that, under Section 285 of the Nigerian constitution, Section 137(7) of the Electoral Act 2022, and other provisions, every witness statement was admissible in court.
He said that based on the Supreme Court authority, once the 21-day window for filing an election petition elapses, the content of the petition cannot be amended.
The Justice stated further that no additional statement on oath can be filed after the close of the specified window since the respondents would not have the opportunity to respond.
Tsammani said the petitioners were aware of the legal provision relating to the filing of witness statements on oath, yet went ahead to present 10 witnesses without their witness statements on oath earlier filed with the petition.
Details later…
