Society Gists

There was a mild drama at the resumed hearing of the Ogun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abeokuta on Friday as Counsels representing the 2nd Respondent and Ogun State Governor, Mr. Dapo Abiodun led by Prof. Taiwo Osipitan, SAN opened their defence.

Prof. Osipitan SAN, who led a subpoenaed witness of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in evidence to testify a confirmation of the School Certificate results submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by Mr. Abiodun on behalf of the Council.

Members of the tribunal panel as well as all the people in the court were taken by surprise when the WAEC witness presented an A4 size sheet of paper purportedly certified by WAEC as the Statement of Results of Dapo Abiodun.

The Petitioners, both PDP and its Governorship candidate in the March 18 Governorship elections had earlier argued that Mr. Abiodun presented to INEC a forged Certificate, purportedly originating from the examination body. An earlier witness also subpoenaed from WAEC had also appeared before the Tribunal to claim that the examination body does not keep duplicates of results and can only certify an original result presented to them.

In another development, another witness, Mr. …. called by Mr. Abiodun’s counsel, and was presented before the Tribunal as an APC Polling Agent in Ward 6, Sagamu Local Government, during cross-examination by the Petitioners’ counsel, Chief Goddy Uche SAN, confirmed massive disruption of the electoral process and materials by a group of masked men in 7 polling units spread across the ward which also tallies with the arguments the petitioners about incomplete electoral processes in some polling units which should have called for a rerun.

The Respondents lawyer, Prof. Osipitan hurriedly requested for an adjournment till Monday for continuation of defence and the tribunal a request which was granted by the Panel and adjourns to Monday 7/08/23 for continuation of defence.