On Monday, Ladi Adebutu, the PDP’s candidate for governor in Ogun State, brought more witnesses to the election petition tribunal to testify against the APC’s incumbent governor, Dapo Abiodun.
The petitioners had presented 56 witnesses by the end of Monday’s hearing; six of them were present today.
On Monday, 67-year-old pastor Olorunwa Tunwase, clothes vendor Kushimo Olamide, businessman Asimolowo Abike, Balogun Muhammed, Mulikat Akorede, and photographer Thomas Abiodun were the six witnesses who were subjected to cross-examination.
People from the Ado-Odo/Ota, Abeokuta North, and Ogun Waterside local government areas of the state filed the case.
In a petition dated EPT/OG/GOV/03/2023, Infostride News remembers, Adebutu and PDP contested Abiodun’s victory in the Ogun State governorship election held on March 18 on the grounds that the election process was not conducted in accordance with the electoral act.
During cross-examination, witnesses told the tribunal that thugs had broken into their polling places and prevented them from voting or tallying the results that day.
Petitioners’ attorney Gordy Uche said he will provide testimony from an additional 65 voters, party agents, and opposing party members at the rescheduled session.
Remi Olatubora (SAN), representing INEC, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), representing Abiodun, and Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), representing APC, all cross-examined the witnesses during the proceedings.
The clergyman, Tunwase, testified that elections at his voting units were canceled owing to violence and that he would not allow the counsels for the respondents to alter his statements.
Please don’t taint my statement; I’m here to report on what transpired in my voting precincts. He stated, “Elections were called off in my polling units because of violence.”
On Tuesday, the petitioners’ attorney told the tribunal that additional witnesses would be presented.
The tribunal presided over by Hamidu Kunaza has postponed its proceedings until July 18.
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate