18,088 blurred election results uploaded to IReV portal, witness tells court

Tamarauemi Ebimini

A witness of Mr. Peter Obi, Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate, yesterday, told the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in Abuja that 18,088 blurred result sheets were uploaded to the result viewing (IReV) portal of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Eric Uwadiegwu Ofoedu, Professor of Mathematics at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, told the court he carried out investigation and data analysis of 2023 presidential election results on the portal.

Led in evidence by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Onyechi Ikpeazu, Ofoedu also told the court that he conducted analysis of results from Rivers and Benue states and that his findings were tendered before the court.

When the witness was presented, counsel for INEC, Abubakar Mahmood (SAN), said he was served the witness statement on oath in court and was, therefore, handicapped on cross-examination

The senior lawyer asked the court to order the petitioners to step down cross-examination of the witness, grant time to look at the witness statement on oath, and prepare for appropriate cross-examination.

Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), lead counsel for President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, and Lateef Fagbemi, representing All Progressives Congress (APC), aligned themselves with the submission of Mahmood but suggested the witness adopt his evidence, while they cross-examine him later.

Ikpeazu apologised for serving the respondents late but told the court the subpoena was obtained only yesterday.

The parties in the petition, thereafter, agreed that the witness could be allowed to give his evidence-in-chief, while the court determines whether or not the cross-examination would be done later.

The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led panel granted LP’s request and deferred cross-examination to today.

Ikpeazu also informed the court of a letter of request written to the witness by LP on February 20, asking him to carry out data analysis for the presidential election, as well as a copy of the subpoena served on the witness.

The senior lawyer tendered all the documents as evidence before the court.

The counsel for INEC and Tinubu/Shettima objected to admissibility of the letter but did not object to the subpoena. Counsel for the APC objected to the subpoena but not the letter.

Tsammani admitted all the documents tendered by LP as exhibits in the petition.