800 Witnesses Ready To Testify In Rivers Guber Tribunal

The Contending parties in the Rivers State governorship poll have told the Election Petition Tribunal that 800 witnesses would testify on the petition filed by Dakuku Peterside challenging the election of Governor Nyesom Wike.
Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN), counsel representing the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peterside told the tribunal, at the weekend, that he had 200 witnesses. Chief Chris Uche (SAN) said he would be calling 400 witnesses on behalf of the electoral body, while Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), who is representing Governor Wike and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said he had 200 witnesses.

They disclosed this just as the tribunal fixed September 3 for the petitioner to open his case.

The tribunal had on Friday, last week, refused the request of the APC and Peterside for an order to compel the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to allow the scanning of the ballot papers used during the election.

In refusing their application, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Mu’azu Pindiga, said that the tribunal had granted similar prayer on 11 June, therefore the instant application was an abuse of court process.

Meanwhile, the parties will today appear before the Court of Appeal to argue the appeal lodged by Wike, who is is challenging the tribunal’s earlier ruling that granted the petitioner request to inspect the election materials.