…INEC initially said would call 15 witnesses in her defence. It dropped down to 5 and eventually to zero witness – Otunba of Ekiti
…Where is the INEC Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr Festus Okoye who wanted Hudu arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned, couldn’t he be a defence witness? A man who went to INEC with a background of activism and as a defender of civil rights, as a journalist would point out, Okoye ought to have avail himself not in defiance but as a defence witness – Otunba
…Defence witness presented by Counsel to Fintiri, Hon Sahabo Aliyu Gurin is a contradiction as an end in himself; in his earlier documented evidence he admitted there were electoral violence in Fufore local government area. However, his verbal witness today, he said everything went hitch free and he owns up to both statements – Otunba
…We’re quite okay with the proceedings based on the evidence and the documents tendered – Counsel to Binani
…The third respondent, PDP, applied to open their own defence tomorrow. We’ll be here 10am for them to call their own witnesses – Counsel to Fintiri
The 11th sitting, which is the 3rd day of the opening of defence, is revealing as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC could no longer present before the tribunal, any witness in her defence today, Friday August 4, 2023.
The journey to the withdrawal of defence witnesses by INEC began from the opening of the defence on Wednesday August 2, when the Counsel to the INEC prayed for the hearing to be adjourned to the next day, Thursday, August 3, because the two witnesses to have appeared before the tribunal have sent excuses associated with insecurity in the state and the trade union protest in the country.
Other witnesses would also not appear on Thursday, August 3, even after the hearing was adjourned to 2pm as prayed for by the Counsel to the INEC.
Today, Friday, the 3rd, being the last day, INEC, closing her defence said she has withdrawn witnesses to have appeared but have tendered exhibits, which the Counsel to Governor Fintiri and the PDP, as second and third respondents, accepted while the Counsel to the APC Governorship candidate, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed, a.k.a Binani as petitioner said would document their objection
Closing his defence, the Counsel to Rt Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri said the exhibit tendered by the Counsel to the INEC sufficed and would only present one witness.
The witness was however with double aged testimonies. Hon Sahabo Aliyu Gurin. He revealed to tribunal that there was free, fair, credible and acceptable election in Fufore local government area that produced Fintiri as the winner of the election.
Gurin also agreed to his documented evidence about violence associated with the elections in Fufore where he could not tell the number of polling units.
The Counsel to the PDP applied to open their defence tomorrow, Saturday 5, and was granted.
Shortly after the hearing, the Counsel to Binani revealed to the media that they were okay with the proceedings and very comfortable.
The Counsel to the petitioner explained that the first respondent, INEC though tendered what they considered as exhibit, have closed their defence without calling any witness to speak.
“And the second respondent. That’s the Governor, through his own defence Counsel called one witness and closed his case.
“The third respondent, PDP, applied to open their own defence tomorrow. We’ll be here 10am for them to call their own witnesses.
“We’re quite okay with the proceedings based on the evidence and the documents,” the Counsel to Binani said.
Addressing the Binani peaceful, hopeful supporters shortly after the tribunal adjourned hearing, Alhaji Umar Mustapha Madawaki a.k.a Otunba of Ekiti expressed satisfaction and hope. He explained that from 15 witnesses, INEC closed her defence with zero witness. Counsel to Fintiri favoured the hearing by closing, the same day they opened the defence, calling on only one witness that ended up in contradicting himself as relates the election and results from Fufore
“We’ll be here tomorrow, Saturday to hear PDP’s defence. So far so good,” Otunba said.