THE CABLE
Tempers flared and words were exchanged between counsels of the Labour Party (LP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the presidential election petition tribunal on Wednesday.
Here are five highlights from the proceedings.
LP ACCUSES INEC CHAIR OF EVADING SUBPOENA
Livy Uzoukwu, lead counsel for the LP, told the court that Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, had consistently avoided being served with a subpoena for the production of documents.
The lawyer said he was not in possession of the subpoena but would provide a copy to the INEC lead counsel.
Uzoukwu urged the INEC lawyer to ensure that the needful is done so as to continue with the proceedings the next day.
TEMPERS FLARE BETWEEN LP COUNSEL, INEC LAWYER
Kemi Pinero, counsel to the INEC, dismissed Uzoukwu’s comments, saying it was a tactic to adjourn the proceedings.
Pinero said there was no conversation of a subpoena directed to the INEC chairman, adding that the commission had adequately responded to subpoenas issued by other parties and had no reason to neglect the LP.
“A subpoena was not refused. PDP served subpoenas and we have responded to them. It is clear that this is becoming a habit that they (LP) like to whip, it’s a pattern,” Pinero said.
“Don’t use INEC as a whipping boy, if they (LP) have nothing else to do they should just say it. We are not going to oppose your adjournment
