THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, has told the Election Petition Tribunal in Abeokuta that thugs obstructed voting in over 99 polling units, disenfranchising over 40,000 individuals during the March 18 governorship election.
Adebutu made the statement after summoning 94 witnesses and presenting 200,000 documents in evidence at the tribunal.
In the case designated EPT/OG/GOV/03/2023, the PDP and Adebutu are disputing Governor Dapo Abiodun’s win based on alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act and corrupt activities during the election.
Adebutu said in his appeal that thugs disrupted elections in over 99 polling units, preventing over 40,000 voters from voting on March 18.
The petitioner called voters and party agents from Sagamu, Ikenne, Odogbolu, Remo North, Ogun Waterside, Ijebu-Ode, Abeokuta South, Abeokuta North, Ado-Odo/Ota, and other local governments as witnesses for about three weeks to prove that there were disruptions in different polling units across the state.
The petitioner also subpoenaed two ad hoc staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a West African Examinations Council (WAEC) official, a statistician, and a forensic expert to testify before the tribunal.
Adebutu also tendered in evidence, certified true copies of INEC electoral materials, result sheets, voter registers, printouts from the Bimodal Voters Accreditation (BVAS) machines, incident forms, video evidence, forensic reports and others.
Addressing newsmen after the sitting, counsel to the petitioners, Chris Uche, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), disclosed, “We have called 94 witnesses on behalf of the petitioners and we have tendered over 200,000 INEC documents before the court, as well as our own documents.”
The INEC is expected to open its defence on Wednesday, being the first respondent in the petition.
Counsel to INEC, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), during the pre-hearing session told the tribunal that the electoral umpire would be calling just one witness.
