Oyo tribunal: INEC to present 160 witnesses

ONE hundred and sixty witnesses are to testify at the Oyo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Ibadan, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) lead counsel, Yusuf Ali (SAN), said yesterday.

Sikiru Sanni, who held the fort for Ali, said the witnesses would be selected from the 33 local governments to prove to the tribunal that INEC conducted free, fair and credible election.

The Accord candidate in the April 11 governorship poll, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, challenged the declaration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner.

He joined the APC, Dr. Rufus Akeju, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and the commission as co-respondents.

Chief Richard Ogunwole (SAN) represented the first and second petitioners. Olumuyiwa Aduroja (SAN) and Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) were counsel to the first and second respondents, while Ali led a team of lawyers for the third and fourth respondents.

He prayed the court to adjourn the case till tomorrow to enable him gather his witnesses.

The lawyer said: “We have substantial witnesses to present to this tribunal within the five days allotted to us. We promise to utilise the time allotted to us judiciously.”

The lead counsel to the second respondent, Chief Akeredolu, who ought to present his witnesses yesterday, closed his case without presenting any witness.

He said: “We are not presenting any witness because we have light evidence presented by the petitioner’s counsel. We will not want to waste the time of this panel by presenting any witness.”