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The Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) on Wednesday in Abeokuta ended its defence within the petition filed by Ladi Adebutu, the Ogun governorship candidate of the PDP.
Within the petition towards Gov. Dapo Abiodun on the election petition tribunal, marked EPT/OG/GOV/03/2023, PDP and Adebutu are difficult his victory based mostly on alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
Adebutu has alleged that voting was disrupted by thugs in additional than 99 polling models, thereby disenfranchising over 40,000 voters from taking part within the March 18 election.
The Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) experiences that when the tribunal resumed on Wednesday, INEC opened its defence towards Adebutu’s allegations, being the primary respondent within the petition.
Its counsel, Olumide Ogidan, instructed the tribunal that the primary respondent would relaxation its case on that of the petitioners.
“On behalf of the primary respondent, we’ve examined the petition in addition to the proof led up to now.
“My Lords, on this notice, we won’t be calling any witness, however we’ll reasonably relaxation our case on that of the petitioners,” he mentioned.
Goddy Uche, representing the petitioners, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, who appeared for Abiodun, and Mr Tayo Oyetibo, for the APC, didn’t oppose INEC’s software to shut its case with out calling any witness.
“It’s their case and they’re entitled to defend it the best way they deemed match,” Adebutu’s counsel, who’s a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), mentioned.
In the meantime, Osipitan who can also be a SAN urged the tribunal to provide his consumer, the second respondent, until Friday to open his case.
Osipitan mentioned Abiodun had simply served a subpoena on a celebration, saying the involved celebration would want time to course of the paperwork requested.
The tribunal then adjourned the sitting until Friday to permit Abiodun open his case.
“We’ll meet on Friday for the second respondent to open his case,” Hamidu Kunaza, the Tribunal Chairman, said.
NAN experiences that, on the final sitting on Thursday, the petitioners by way of their counsel Uche had closed their case after calling 94 witnesses and tendering over 200,000 paperwork in proof.
They referred to as as witnesses voters and celebration brokers from Sagamu, Ikenne, Remo North, Odogbolu, Ogun Waterside, Ijebu-Ode, Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Ado-Odo/Ota and different Native Authorities Areas (LGAs).
This was to allow them show that there have been disruptions.
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