Ogun tribunal admits PDP witness’s video as exhibit

Sunkanmi Oyejide, a star witness for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), submitted video evidence for consideration before the Ogun State election petition tribunal on Thursday.

Wednesday, lawyers argued heatedly as Oyejide presented video evidence in support of Ladi Adebutu’s suit.

Adebutu is contesting Governor Dapo Abiodun’s reelection as governor on March 18.

Chris Uche, petitioner’s counsel, called Oyejide as a star witness after calling more than 90 routine witnesses.

Oyejide presented papers as part of his testimony yesterday, including the video evidence, to which the petitioners strongly opposed.

When the star witness presented video proof of thugs disrupting polling in Ogun and a paper translating words in the film from Yoruba to English, the proceedings descended into chaos.

In their respective presentations, INEC’s attorney Remi Olatubora, Abiodun’s attorney Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, and the APC’s Onyechi Ikpeazu all argued that the video evidence should be excluded from consideration.

According to Olatubora, the documents are “cancerous,” and the video evidence is hearsay that should be excluded from court proceedings.

He claimed that Oyejide said the recordings came from the untrustworthy websites of Channels Television and Arise Television.

Uche responded that the paper must first be admitted into evidence before the tribunal could rule on its hearsay status.

According to the prehearing report, the PDP’s attorney said, the respondents shouldn’t raise any concerns until the final addresses.

In court, he argued that the video evidence should be admitted despite the defendants’ objections.

The court heard arguments from both sides and has postponed a decision until today.

On Thursday morning, the court resumed its hearing and said that it would admit the video evidence because it agreed with the petitioners’ arguments.

After the judge gave the go-ahead, the footage was shown in court.