Politics
PEPT: Court Admits Additional Video Evidence In Peter Obi Petition
The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in Abuja has accepted additional video evidence presented by Mr. Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party (LP).
The video, stored on a flash drive, was presented by Ijeoma Osamor, the anchor of the Democracy Today program on AIT.
During the court session held on Friday, the video recording which was played openly after being admitted as an exhibit, was brought forward in response to a subpoena issued by the Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel to Africa Independent Television (AIT).
In the video, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, can be seen addressing the press during a conference.
He assured that the results of the upcoming 2023 general elections will be transmitted electronically, utilizing Bimodal Voter Accreditation (BVAS) devices.
Subsequently, following the admission of the video recording as evidence, the court granted permission for the lawyers representing INEC, President Bola Tinubu, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) – who are respondents in the case – to cross-examine the witness.
During the cross-examination, Osamor clarified to the court that contrary to the positions presented by President Tinubu and the APC, the INEC Chairman did not declare before the elections that the results would no longer be uploaded.
However, Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko, SAN, counsel for the APC, insisted that there was a newspaper publication supporting the party’s claim that the INEC Chairman had provided reasons before the elections as to why the Commission could not transmit the results.
During her testimony, the witness affirmed to the court that as a reporter assigned to cover INEC-related news, she had attended all press briefings conducted by the Commission.
She stated categorically that she never heard any announcement from Prof. Yakubu regarding the discontinuation of result transmission.
Furthermore, she informed the court that the publication referred to by President Tinubu and the APC, dated February 23, was likely a personal interview between the INEC Chairman and Tribune Newspaper.
This suggested that it might not have been an official statement or declaration made by Prof. Yakubu during a press conference or public event.
In the midst of the trial, all the Respondents raised objections to the admissibility of the video recording obtained from AIT as evidence. They expressed their intention to present detailed reasons supporting their objections in their final written addresses.
Earlier during the proceedings, Prof. Eric Ofoedu, a Mathematics professor from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, testified that he had analyzed some of the results of the presidential election that INEC had uploaded on its IReV portal.
During cross-examination, Prof. Ofoedu clarified that his analysis was undertaken as an academic exercise with the aim of benefiting his students, rather than for any particular legal or political purpose.
The witness emphasized that he did not receive any payment for conducting the analysis.
He further stated that he was subpoenaed to present the outcome of his analysis as evidence since his original intention was not to utilize the report for election litigation purposes.
However, the witness stood by his assertion that out of the 18,088 result sheets that INEC uploaded concerning the presidential contest, a significant number of them were blurred or lacked clarity.
The court adjourned the proceedings and scheduled further hearings on the matter to take place on Monday.
Deji Adeyanju, a Nigerian activist and lawyer, has made explosive claims regarding the 2023 presidential election, suggesting that former Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) leader Rabiu Kwankwaso secretly supported President Bola Tinubu’s campaign.
In a post shared on his 𝕏 page Thursday, Adeyanju contended that Obi, who ran against Tinubu, would likely continue to support the president in future political endeavors.
He expressed certainty that Obi would decline any efforts to form a coalition aimed at challenging Tinubu in the next election.
READ ALSO: Lad Who Stood In Front Of Obi’s Convoy Apprehended For Street Fighting – Police
“I’m 100% convinced that Obi worked for Tinubu in 2023 and will do so again. I might be wrong, but I’m convinced in my mind about this,” Adeyanju wrote.
“Once a businessman, always a businessman. Those still in doubt will see the clear handwriting before 2027. He will refuse to join the coalition,” he continued.
Additionally, Adeyanju accused Kwankwaso of working in favor of Tinubu during the previous election.
He emphasized that for any opposition coalition to succeed in the 2027 race, figures like Obi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—another presidential hopeful—must step aside.
“For the coalition to succeed, all the self-centered politicians like Atiku & Obi should promise not to run and allow neutral folks to run against Tinubu,” Adeyanju proposed. “This is how to put the interest of the nation above personal interest,” he added.
The activist went on to criticize the culture surrounding Nigerian politics, describing it as an industry driven by opportunism.
He lamented the presence of “merchants” surrounding top politicians, accusing them of putting personal gain ahead of the country’s well-being. “The biggest industry in Africa is politics,” Adeyanju said.
“And those around popular politicians are all merchants. Once politics is around the corner, they are in business. Con men and women who just want to cash out.”
Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, attended his first National Economic Council (NEC) meeting today at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Ibas was appointed to the position by President Bola Tinubu following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara in March 2025.
READ MORE: Tinubu Swears In Ibas As Rivers Sole Administrator
The NEC meeting, which is being presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima, gathered a number of state governors and deputy governors from across the 36 states of Nigeria to discuss important national economic issues.
Among the notable figures in attendance was Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress.
Governor Oborevwori led the opening prayers at the meeting on the instruction of Vice President Shettima.
Other state governors present included Rev. Fr. Hycinth Alia of Benue State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak of Kwara, Monday Okpebholo of Edo, and Bassey Otu of Cross River, along with several deputy governors.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), ending his long-standing association with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under which he was elected in 2023.
The switch was confirmed on Wednesday after a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Asaba.
According to his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, the decision came after extensive deliberations.
READ ALSO: Edo LP Senator, Neda Imasuen Set To Join APC
“This move followed wide consultations with political stakeholders and is in the interest of Delta’s long-term development,” Ahon stated.
Oborevwori was welcomed into the APC by senior party figures, marking what observers are calling a calculated political maneuver with potential ramifications for the 2027 elections.
More to follow…………..
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