The Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday closed its defence of the election of its candidate in the April 11, 2015 governorship election in Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.
The petitioners – the All Progressives Congress and its candidate, Dr. Dakuku Peterside – are challenging the declaration of Governor Wike as the winner of the poll, which they alleged was marred by widespread violence and irregularities.
The Justice Mohammed Ambrosa-led tribunal on Tuesday adjourned till October 22 for parties to adopt their final written addresses, after the PDP being the third respondent to the petition and behind the Independent National Electoral Commission and Wike, closed its defence.
For the six days allotted to the PDP to prove its case, it did not call any witness but only tendered documents ranging from newspaper publications, incident forms and result sheets, among other documents, used for the conduct of the poll.
The petitioners had through their lawyer, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), called 56 witnesses including some of its agents during the election and officers of the Nigerian Army, the police, as well as the Department of State Services, who narrated how the conduct of the poll was characterised by irregularities and widespread violence.
One of the petitioners’ witnesses was the Head of Election and Party Monitoring Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Rivers State, Charles Okoye, who described the poll as a sham which he said resulted in a mockery of democracy.
But INEC, the first respondent to the petition, through its counsel, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), called a total of 16 witnesses, testifying that the April 11 governorship election in Rivers State was peacefully held and was credible.
Wike also defended the outcome of the poll through 16 witnesses, who described the poll as free and fair.
Among the last set of witnesses called by Wike earlier on Monday was a former National Commissioner of INEC, Dr. Christopher Iyimoga, who dismissed the report on the conduct of the poll which was tendered by the petitioners’ witness, Okoye.
Iyimoga had testified that contrary to the assertion of the petitioners’ witnesses, the April 11, 2015 poll was peacefully conducted, adding that Okoye lacked the right to make any report since he was only a travel guide to the INEC national commissioners who were given the mandate to monitor the conduct of the election in the state.
The petitioners conducted their case within 10 days while each of the three respondents was allotted six days each.
On Tuesday, which was the last day for its defence, the PDP, through its counsel, Goddy Uche (SAN), tendered result sheets relating to some polling units in the state.
Justice Ambrosa said after the PDP closed its case, the tribunal registry would remain open all day for parties to file their addresses.
The petitioners were given three days to prepare and file their final addresses while each of the respondents was given four days to respond.
The tribunal chairman explained that there was the need to fast-track the adoption of addresses as the lifespan of the petition would elapse on October 29, 2015, when it would clock the 180 days within which the petition must be heard and determined.
After the adoption of the final addresses on October 22, the tribunal will fix a day for judgment which must be on or before October 28.
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