INEC now a busy body and is fighting proxy war for Tinubu – Atiku's lawyer

The Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has accused the Independent Electoral Commission of fighting a proxy war on behalf of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu.

Stating this on Friday, May 19, during the proceedings at the Presidential Election Petition Court, Counsel for the PDP and Atiku, Chris Uche (SAN), countered the application moved by INEC’s counsel, Kemi Pinhero SAN .

INEC through its counsel had moved a motion on notice praying the Court to strike out some of the allegations made against Tinubu by Atiku in his petition.

INEC pleaded with the court to strike out 32 allegations made against Tinubu by Atiku in the petition challenging his victory.

INEC said that the allegations which formed 32 paragraphs in Atiku’s petition should be removed by the court for lack of jurisdiction among others.

But Atiku's counsel filed a counter affidavit in opposition to INEC’s request asking the court to dismiss the electoral body’s application.

Uche (SAN) argued in the counter affidavit that it was not the duty of INEC to defend Tinubu.

Uche said that INEC ought to be neutral but turned itself into a “busybody and meddlesome interloper” in taking up the defence of Tinubu against the provisions of the law.

He said, “INEC is fighting a proxy war on behalf of Tinubu which a neutral body should not do.”

He, therefore, asked the Court to dismiss INEC’s motion for being a gross abuse of court process, that lacks merit.

The PDP and Atiku are in court to challenge the declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 election by INEC.