Ogun tribunal: Adebutu and PDP call 83 witnesses in two weeks

In the petition contesting the victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun and his party, the All Progressives Congress, in the state’s 2023 governorship election, the Peoples Democratic Party and Ladi Adebutu, its candidate for governor in Ogun State, have called 83 witnesses to testify.

No fewer than 83 witnesses, including two ad hoc INEC employees who took part in the election, had been called by the petitioners as of Friday.

Adebutu and the PDP had contested Abiodun’s victory over purported irregularities during the state’s governorship election on March 18 in the petition with the file number EPT/OG/GOV/03/2023.

Festus Inioluwa, Balogun Oladipo, Mustapha Gbenga, and Olugbile Emmanuel were the four witnesses called by the PDP candidate’s attorney, Gordy Uche, SAN, on Friday to testify in favor of the petition.

Dr. Remi Olatubora (SAN), who represented INEC, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan (SAN), who appeared for Abiodun, and Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), who represented the APC, all cross-examined the witnesses.

When political thugs allegedly loyal to the APC stormed his polling unit 12, ward 6, in Sagamu, and interfered with the election, some police officers manning the unit fled, according to the Governorship Election Tribunal, which was sitting in Abeokuta, the capital of the State.

Read Also: Yakubu: INEC to review collation and returning officer hiring

The witness responded, “I did not report,” when asked if he informed the police about the alleged disturbance. When thugs stormed the polling places and ruined the election, police officers who were on the scene fled.

In addition, Inioluwa concurred with his party that a total of 49,066 voters were denied the right to vote in the state’s governorship election on March 18.

The respondent’s attorneys raised objections to the documents presented to the tribunal by the PDP’s subpoenaed witnesses but saved their main points of contention for last.
or last.