The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has addressed the accusations made by the legal team of the Labour Party (LP) and its candidate, Peter Obi, regarding the alleged refusal to respond to subpoenas served on them.

The LP and Obi have filed a petition challenging the outcome of the presidential election where Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress was declared the elected president by INEC.

During the proceedings, the petitioners claimed that INEC had denied them access to crucial documents necessary for their case.

Counsel for the petitioners, Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, expressed dissatisfaction, stating that despite their efforts, INEC consistently refused to produce the requested documents as per the subpoena.

In response, INEC’s counsel, Kemi Pinhero, SAN, conducted Wednesday’s proceedings on behalf of the electoral body and countered the assertions.

Pinhero accused the petitioners of continuously blaming INEC for withholding documents and urged them to stop this habit, stating, “Don’t use INEC as a whipping boy.”

The court advised both parties to maintain calm and adjourned the matter to June 15 for further proceedings.