Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Lagos State for the March 18 elections, presented over 20,000 documents to the Lagos State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Tuesday.
According to news reports, the Labour Party chairman who delivered this material packaged in 13 boxes through his lead counsel, Dr Olumide Ayeni, also gave his exhibit schedule.
Rhodes-Vivour had disputed the win of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who ran on the banner of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state’s governorship elections on March 18.
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At yesterday’s hearing, the panel ordered the petitioner to provide all respondents with access to the materials.
The respondents are expected to begin reviewing the materials on Tuesday and continue through Wednesday.
Dr. Ayeni, the petitioner’s lawyer, had sought to file an application to allow the petitioner to tender, use, and rely on certain documents, including an inspection report, sworn witnesses of certain persons listed on its application, and other electoral documents used or purportedly used in the election at issue in the petition.
However, counsel for the first respondent, (INEC), Charles Edosomwan (SAN), termed the application as “a ground-moving motion” and requested time to discuss with his client about whether or not to contest the application.
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Responding to the petitioner, Muiz Banire (SAN), counsel for Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Obafemi Hamzat, who are the 2nd and 3rd respondents to the petition, stated that the application was not ripe for hearing, adding that his clients are still within time to respond to the application under the provisions of paragraph 47(4) of the first schedule.
Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), counsel of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the litigation, responded to the motion.
Owonikoko contended that his client’s orders not to enable the petitioner to revive its case after pre-hearing had been followed. He also stated that he would take his time in responding to the application.
Following the submissions, the petitioner’s counsel requested that the tribunal grant a stay of proceedings so that it may deliver its documents in accordance with the tribunal’s pre-trial report by the end of Tuesday.
The tribunal then deferred its meeting until Wednesday to allow the petitioner to call his first witness in support of his plea.
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When the witnesses begin to testify, the papers are supposed to be presented through them.
This platform learned through Channels Television that over 20,000 documents were found in over 13,000 voting units, including INEC forms EC9, EC8A & B, Form EC40A, Form EC40G, BIVAS Reports, and more, as well as result sheets from various polling units and other pertinent documents.
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