Governor Nyesom Wike will tomorrow begin the defence of his election at the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.
The tribunal chaired by Justice Suleiman Ambursa adjourned today till tomorrow after counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday formally closed the umpire’s defence of its role in the 11 April 2015 Rivers election.
The APC and its candidate, Mr Dakuku Peterside, the petitioners had approached the Justice Suleiman Ambursa led three-man panel seeking for the nullification of the election of Gov. Nyesom Wike, the 2nd respondent.
The petitioners are also challenging the conduct of INEC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the 3rd respondent at the election and are seeking the nullification on the ground that the election was marred by irregularities and fraudulent practices.
Some of the witnesses brought by the INEC were presiding officers and electoral officers from different polling units in different local government areas in the state.
INEC, which is the 1st respondent, closed its defence after producing 16 witnesses from different local government areas of the state to testify.
At the resumed hearing, Counsel to the INEC, Mr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) told the tribunal chairman that INEC had exhausted its defence and therefore, it would be closing it.
According to Ikpeazu, the witnesses presented by INEC and the documents tendered have proved that the elections were held peacefully in line with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.
Addressing journalists outside the tribunal session, the INEC counsel, Ikpeazu explained that the number of witnesses called by the commission were in line with the allegations made by Dakuku.
“We are satisfied with 16 witnesses who conducted the Rivers State Governorship Election in communities where the petitioner had alleged violence.
“The16 witnesses are enough to prove that the election was held peacefully, contrary to the petitioners’ allegations.
“The witnesses are not called for the fun of it, but for the specific purpose of proving our case,’’ Ikpeazu said.