The Kogi State governor, Usman Ododo, is expected to open his defence at the state governorship election petition sitting in Abuja on Wednesday.
This came after the Independent National Electoral Commission on Tuesday, closed its defence in the petition by the Social Democratic Party and its governorship candidate in the Kogi State November 11 election, Murtala Ajaka.
The PUNCH reports that counsel for INEC, Uchenna Njoku on Monday tendered several documents to support the victory of the governor.
Some of the documents include the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of the Election, INEC Manuals for Electoral Officers, and INEC Form EC8C, among others.
However, at Tuesday’s proceedings, Njoku tendered more documents, which were admitted as exhibits.
The documents admitted as exhibits are the summary of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, another document containing the BVAS’ identification numbers, and the BVAS machines used for the election, among others.
He then told the tribunal headed by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudo that INEC wouldn’t be calling any witnesses after assessing the case of the petitioners.
Njoku informed the tribunal of the commission’s desire to close its case.
He said, “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, INEC applies to close its case.”
Subsequently, Justice Birnin-Kudo declared the commission’s case closed. He adjourned the matter till April 16 for Ododo to open his defence.
