The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has closed its defence in the petition filed by the Ogun State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ladi Adebutu, at the State’s Election Petition Tribunal.
Adebutu and the PDP had filed a suit before the Tribunal challenging the victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun at the just concluded governorship election in the state.
In the petition marked EPT/OG/GOV/03/2023, the party alleged irregularities, including non-compliance with the Electoral Act in the election that brought Abiodun to power.
Adebutu and the PDP maintained that the guber elections were disrupted by thugs in over 99 polling units, disenfranchising over 40,000 voters from participating in the March 18 election.
The petitioners after tendering over 200,000 documents through their lawyer, Chris Uche called as witnesses, voters and party agents from Sagamu, Ikenne, Remo North, Odogbolu, Ogun Waterside, Ijebu-Ode, Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Ado-Odo/Ota and others, to prove that there were disruptions.
The petitioner also subpoenaed two INEC ad-hoc staff, an official of the West African Examination Council (WAEC), a statistician and a forensic analyst to give evidence before the tribunal.
Adebutu also tendered certified true copies of INEC result sheets, voter registers, printouts from the Bimodal Voters Accreditation (BVAS) machines, incident forms, video evidence, forensic reports and other documents.
