"Accredited 424, Valid 424, Rejected 12", APC agent says as party closes case with just three witnesses

Dapo Abiodun 

The All Progressives Congress has closed its defence against Hon. Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied People's Movement at the Ogun election petition tribunal after calling just three witnesses

The APC,through its lead counsel, Paul Ananaba SAN, said that it would no longer call any witness; saying it had closed its case.

Ananaba had on July 18 told the tribunal that there would be 'fireworks' on Tuesday when the third respondent would start calling its witnesses. 

But at the resumed hearing of the tribunal on Tuesday, the APC was able to call only three witnesses, among whom was one Tunde Banjo, who was the agent of the APC in Ward 8, Ikenne Local Government.

While confronted with Exhibit P5, the pink copy of Form EC8A for AUD School Ilisan, Banjo read out that the result has 424 Accredited voters, 12 Rejected ballots and 424 Valid votes, fuelling speculations that there was overvoting at the polling unit. 

But the witness said the exhibit was not the one given to him on the day of the election, that it was similar to it. 

It was the same scenario as Akinlade's counsel, Isiaka Olagunju, cross-examined the other two witnesses, who affirmed that there were no cancellations or alterations on the pink copies of result sheets as seen on the top copy provided by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Meanwhile, the Ogun governorship election petition tribunal has adjourned till August 19 for the petitioners as well the respondents to submit their final written addresses.

As the APC closed its case, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Yusuf Halilu, asked all counsels to look at whatever they want to file, to abridge time and agree on when to come for the adoption of their final addresses.

In a unanimous decision, all the counsels prayed the tribunal to adjourn till August 19 for the adoption of their final addresses. 

Speaking, Justice Halilu appreciated the outer and inner bar for their cooperation with the bench; which he said had given the Ogun tribunal 'safe arrival'.

"The most senior lawyers and the junior ones in this tribunal have all shown high level of professionalism. I can't thank you enough. You are responsible for this safe arrival of the tribunal. It is not easy to open a petition and close it without having very unhealthy situations.

"Whilst you have the responsibilities to represent your clients very well, you did same within the confines of professionalism. I make bold to say that it couldn't have been a better tribunal than this." Halilu said. 

The tribunal Chairman also lauded journalists covering the tribunal for doing their jobs according to the ethics of the their profession.

He said, "the pressmen have been doing very well. It has been a balanced reportage; exactly what transpired at this tribunal have been exactly what we read in the newspapers. We cannot thank you enough. You have been extremely professional in your reportage. Continue to carry yourselves in that light and I am sure the sky is your limit."