Ogun tribunal: Isiaka closes case, tenders 4,000 evidence

The Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate in April 11 governorship election in Ogun State, Mr. Gboyega Isiaka, on Monday closed their case at the State Governorship Election petitions tribunal after they had tendered over 4,000 evidence before the court.

They also called nine witnesses in support of their case.

Isiaka is challenging the declaration of Governor Ibikunle Amosun of the All progressives Congress, who are both respondents in the case, as the winner of the April governorship poll in the state.

The last witness, Benjamin Ibikunle, told the court that the petitioners deserved victory, saying Isiaka and the PDP had approached the court with a very valid case and expected nothing but victory.

The witness, who was confronted with some of the exhibits before the court, maintained that the issues raised by the respondents during the cross-examination, were not substantial enough to throw out the petition.

He insisted that the petitioners had provided enough evidence to proof that the election was marred with irregularities and malpractices.

PDP and Isiaka had approached the tribunal, challenging the result of the election which returned Amosun for a second term in office, saying the results in nine local governments out of 20, contained many irregularities and were not done in conformity with the electoral law.

The first respondent, Amosun, is, however, expected to open his defence on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the three-man panel, Justice Henry Olusiyi, has called on the respondents to cooperate with the tribunal and refrain from seeking unnecessary adjournment when the defence starts.

Speaking with journalists after the sitting, lead counsel to the petitioner, Adetunji Oyeyipo (SAN), commended the hearing so far.

He said, “The process has been okay, we can’t say in anyway that we have been prevented from presenting our case. I believe the tribunal has been fair in its handling of the case up to this point and I have no fear that the tribunal will continue to be fair to all the parties.”