Lead counsel for Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP), Dr. Livy Uzoukwu SAN has expressed surprise that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) opposed his clients’ petition seeking to have proceedings of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) televised.
Uzoukwu spoke with journalists after the tribunal pre-hearing session on Wednesday.
“Surprisingly, INEC is objecting. A public institution that is being funded by the government and representing the people is saying they don’t want the people to enjoy live streaming. What are they hiding?
“INEC sees itself as a candidate in an election that it conducted. I say with every degree of emphasis going by the conduct of INEC.
“In court, no other party is complaining about not getting documents. Why is it so?
“Only the petitioners who have not been provided with the required documents and I keep on asking, what is INEC hiding?” Uzoukwu queried.
On March 1, INEC declared Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the February 25 presidential election.
Obi and LP, the second runner-up in the election, have approached the presidential election tribunal in a petition marked CA/PEPC/03/2023 challenging Tinubu and APC’s victory as declared by INEC.
The petitioners are asking the tribunal to declare Obi as the winner of the presidential poll or alternatively, order INEC to conduct a fresh election.
The PEPC has adjourned proceedings to Friday, May 19 for continuation of hearing.