Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal had adjourned her sitting to Saturday Aug. 26 for the second respondent, Gov. Abdullahi Sule and candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) to prove that the March 18 election results was not rigged in his favour.
The Chairman of the three-man Governorship Election Petition Panel, Ezekiel Ajayi, adjourned the sitting to Saturday Aug. 26, after the completion of today’s proceedings.
The sitting today (Friday, Aug. 25) was slated for the continuation of defence by the second respondent.
Earlier, Messrs Wole Olanikpekun (SAN), lead counsel of the second respondent tendered certified copies of some documents which includes; form EC8BS for Shege 1 ward of Toto LGA, form EC8BS of Gidan Ausa 2 of Obi LGA.
The Counsel to Gov. Sule also presented seven witnesses from Keffi and Nasarawa Local Government Areas respectively to prove that his client won the March 18 elections in their respective areas.
The witness includes; Muktar Ibrahim from Iya 2 Electoral Ward of Keffi, Habibu Sarki of Ara 2 Electoral Ward of Nasarawa, Ibrahim Umar of Kuto Aisa Electoral Ward of Nasarawa.
Others are; Abdulkadir Adamu of Nasarawa North Electoral Ward, Iduwa Sabo of Agum Electoral Ward in Nasarawa, Ibrahim Yahaya of Usege-Mbeki, Odu electoral ward of Nasarawa and Kaika Egwu of Udeni Gida ward of Nasarawa LGA.
All the witnesses claimed that the elections were held peacefully in thier respective areas and the governor won as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
They also told the tribunal that BVAS were used in their areas during the governorship elections.
However, during cross examination, Samuel Jubril-Okutepa (SAN) counsel to petitioner said that the results in the INEC IREV was different from what the witnesses identified to be the election results from their areas.
The lead counsel of the petitioner has also objected to the documents tendered by the counsel of the second respondent and said he would mention the reason for the objection in his written address.
Mr David Ombugadu, candidate of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is challenging the victory of Gov. Abdullahi Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the polls conducted on March 18. (NAN).