The presidential election petition court (PEPC) , on Tuesday, chided the counsel of the Labour party, Livy Uzoukwu, for failing to follow laid-out procedures in requesting documents from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Mr Uzoukwu had accused the electoral commission of deliberately withholding documents that could help the Labour Party’s case as it contests the results of the February 25 presidential election. 

“We met with the INEC chairman and he assured us that all the documents will be made available,” Mr Uzoukwu said. 

INEC, represented by it’s director on certification and complaints, Morounkeji Olufunmilayo, however  objected to Labour party’s claims. According to her, the subpeona to produce the documents was only received on Monday. 

The court cautioned that Mr Uzoukwu’s continuous reference to his meeting with INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, could not be relied upon as a subsisting law which the court could regard as a legal compelling force. 

The court highlighted that there is an existing legal process of applying for documents with clearly spelt punishment for refusing or obstructing the process but the Labour party counsels have not thoroughly followed the process but has continued to wrongly relied on the assurances made in person by Mr Yakubu. 

The documents in question include the state collation sheets of the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).