Justice Suleiman Ambursa, chairman of the Rivers State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has adjourned sitting till 22 October for the adoption of written addresses and for the petitioner and respondent to prepare for the delivery of the judgment, likely to be before 29 October.
According to the chairman, the tribunal registry will remain open all day for all counsels prior to the adoption of written addresses on Oct. 22.
Justice Ambursa stated that the life span of the petition expires on Oct. 29, when it will clock 180 days, hence the decision to hasten the adoption of written addresses.
Ambursa spoke in Abuja, where the Tribunal is sitting, following the closing of the defence by the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
The party called for the dismissal of the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate for the election, Dr Dakuku Peterside.
It tendered some documents like result sheets, INEC Form EC 8A, particularly in the polling units where the state APC had alleged that elections did not hold.
The PDP also tendered Form EC 40A, to signify the distribution of ballot papers to six local government areas, part of the areas where the APC also alleged there was no election.
The local government areas where it tendered documents before the tribunal are Onelga, Andoni, Eleme, Gokana, Degema and Onyigbo.
The party also tendered a Thisday newspaper clipping of April 22, where the former INEC National Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, declared Gov. Wike election as credible and peaceful.
The PDP further submitted voters’ registers for specific polling units where the APC is also challenging the victory of the state governor.
Other documents the PDP submitted to the tribunal included INEC Forms EC 25A, EC 25A1, EC 25B and EC 25B1, and public announcement of INEC on March 28, which the party said INEC promoted its case.
The party also affirmed before the tribunal the documents tendered in the section where the APC party polling agents signed on the result sheets.
Addressing newsmen outside the tribunal, the PDP Counsel, Mr Goddy Uche (SAN), noted that the documents tendered are critical to the determination of the petition.
According to Uche, his client has been able to expose the falsehood promoted by the state APC.
In his reaction, Counsel to the APC, Mr Adeniyi Akintola, said that the party would respond in its final written address.