Ekiti governorship poll dispute: APC opens defence today

The All Progressives Congress (APC) will open its defence today in the ongoing hearing of a petition challenging its victory in the Ekiti State governorship election on June 14.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the election, Olusola Kolapo, are challenging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for declaring APC’s candidate, Kayode Fayemi, the winner of the election.

INEC is listed as first respondent, while APC and Fayemi are listed as the second and third respondents in the petition being heard by the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Court 17, High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Apo, Abuja, the nation’s capital.

During yesterday’s sitting, APC’s lawyer, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), indicated the party’s readiness to open its defence after lawyer to INEC, Charles Edosomwan (SAN), announced the closure of his client’s case.

Owonikoko said the APC would open its defence today, assuring the tribunal that the party would make judicious use of the 10 days allocated to it to conduct its defence.

At the resumption of proceedings yesterday, Edosomwan tendered more documents before announcing the closure of his client’s case.

The lawyer tendered certified true copies (CTC) of Form EC40G and Form RF40G, documents detailing where the governorship election was cancelled.

He also tendered Form EC40G for Okemesi 3 Registration Centre and Aramoko Ward 2 in Ekiti West Local Government Area.

The INEC lawyer equally tendered Form RF40G for Imesi Registration Area and Ilu Omoba Registration Area in Gbonyin Local Government Area.

Owonikoko and Fayemi’s lawyer Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) did not object to the admission of the documents Edosomwan tendered as exhibits.

But the PDP’s and Kolapo’s lawyer Rowland Otaru (SAN) objected to the admission of the documents and promised to supply his reasons for objecting at the address stage.

Tribunal’s Chairman Justice Suleiman Belgore admitted the documents as exhibits, after which he invited the second respondent (APC) to open its case.

In response to the judge’s invitation, Owonikoko promised APC’s readiness to begin its defence today.

Justice Belgore adjourned till today.