The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Wednesday, opened and closed its defence in the petition filed by the Ogun state governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ladi Adebutu, against Governor Dapo Abiodun at the election petition tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital.
The court, on Thursday, had adjourned till Wednesday for INEC to open its defence against Adebutu’s allegations, being the first respondent in the petition.
However, as the election court resumed Wednesday, INEC closed its case without calling any witness.
INEC’s counsel, Olumide Ogidan told the tribunal that the first respondent would rest its case on that of the petitioners.
“On behalf of the first respondent, we have examined the petition as well as the evidence led so far.
“My Lords, on this note, we will not be calling any witness, but we will rather rest our case on that of the petitioners,” Ogidan said while applying to close INEC’s case.
Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, who appeared for Abiodun and Tayo Oyetibo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), did not oppose INEC’s application to close its case without calling any witness.
“It is their case and they are entitled to defend it the way they deemed fit,” Abiodun’s counsel said.
PDP and Adebutu had in the petition marked EPT/OG/GOV/03/2023 challenged the victory of Abiodun based on alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
In his petition, Adebutu alleged that elections were disrupted by thugs in over 99 polling units, disenfranchising over 40,000 voters from participating in the March 18 election.
The petitioners, through their counsel, Chris Uche, had closed their case last Thursday after calling 94 witnesses and tendering over 200,000 documents in evidence.
The petitioners called as witnesses, voters and party agents from Sagamu, Ikenne, Remo North, Odogbolu, Ogun Waterside, Ijebu-Ode, Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Ado-Odo/Ota and others, to prove that there were disruptions.
The petitioner also subpoenaed two INEC ad-hoc staff, an official of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), a statistician and a forensic analyst to give evidence before the tribunal.
