INEC closes defence in SDP/Ajaka’s case against Ododo’s electoral victory
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has closed its defence in the petition filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, Murtala Ajaka, challenging the victory of Governor Usman Ododo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State.
INEC’s lawyer, Uchenna Njoku made this public while addressing the Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja on Tuesday, April 16.
After tendering some documents, Njoku told the three-member panel of justices, led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudo, that INEC did not intend to call any witness having assessed the case of the petitioners.
“My lords, the 1st respondent, having reviewed the state of pleadings in this petition, the evidence elicited from petitioners’ witnesses under cross examination, and the documents so far tendered in evidence by the 1st respondent, considers it reasonable not to further belabour the tribunal with the calling of witnesses.
“In the circumstances, the 1st respondent (INEC) applies to close its case,” the lawyer said.
Justice Birnin-Kudo, who declared the commission’s case closed, adjourned the matter until April 16 for Gov. Ododo (2nd respondent) to open its defence.Earlier in the course of Tuesday’s proceedings, Njoku told the tribunal that INEC brought the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices used for the election as ordered by the court on November 25, 2023.
Njoku also tendered three sets of documents, which included a letter, dated Feb. 22 forwarding the BVAS, a document containing the summary of the BVAS devices and another documents containing the BVAS’ identification numbers.
When Njoku applied to tender the documents, Ibrahim Sanni Mohammed, SAN, who appeared for Ododo and Ayo Asala (SAN), who appeared for the APC, did not object to the admissibility of the exhibits.
Lawyer to SDP and Ajaka, Pius Akubo, SAN, objected on the grounds that it was only documents that were tendered without the actual exhibits.
Ruling, tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu admitted the documents as exhibits and marked them accordingly.
The BVAS tendered were in relation to seven LGAs, which include Okehi, Ajaoukuta, Basa, Ogori-Magongo, Lokoja, Adavi and Okene.
Meanwhile, Ododo has indicated his readiness to open his defence on Wednesday.
His lawyer, Mohammed disclosed this upon being asked by the tribunal’s chairman when the 2nd respondent was willing to open his defence.
Mohammed assured the tribunal that his client was ready to commence his defence on Wednesday.
