The Edo Elections tribunal sitting in Benin City has ruled that the PDP and its governorship candidate in last september’s governorship polls in the state, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, can call subpoeanaed witnesses besides those of the party to testify for it.

Justice Ahmed Badamasi chairman of the 3-member tribunal who gave the nod to the party on Wednesday, will tomorrow, also rule on the application by the petitioners for a recounting of the INEC ballot papers used in the elections and now before it as exhibits.

The court ruling on the recount becomes necessary as both INEC, Mr Godwin Obaseki and APC are objecting to the application for the recounting by the petitioners, contrary to the earlier positions they held on Tuesday when the exhibits got to the tribunal.

The petitioners are challenging the declaration by the Independent National Election Commission (INEC) of Mr Godwin Obaseki as winner of the election and named the INEC, Obaseki and the APC as first, second and third respondents respectively in their petition.

INEC had declared Obaseki winner of the Edo governorship election saying he polled more than 319,483 votes to defeat Ize-Iyamu, his closest rival, who it said scored over 250,000 votes.

Counsel to INEC who based his objection to the application for recounting on paragraph 47(1) of the electoral act and also 218-219 of the evidence act got the support of counsels to Obaseki and that of the APC.

However, responding, Yusuf Ali (SAN) counsel to the PDP, described as, ‘acrobatic summersaulting’, the submissions of the respondents.

Ali (SAN) told the court why the documents needed to be recounted, when he said, “I apply to your lordship that the ballot papers from these LGAS be recounted, in order to ally the fears of all parties about the ballot papers”.

He said that the arguments from all the respondents particularly that of counsel to governor Godwin Obaseki, Mr Ken Mozai, (SAN) were not only inappropriate and irrelevant but inapplicable.

He added that this is because Obaseki, doesn’t have any locus standi to oppose the application after initially approving the same application, adding that the only grounds on which they can object is if they think that the documents have been tampered with.

He argued that, “This application ought not to be opposed by anybody who has nothing to hide. A case like this at the tribunal is a trial of democracy and our electoral process”.

He said, “This is not the kind of case we should be playing hide and seek;am so disappointed that INEC whose documents were subpoeanae to court, who ought to be spearheading this application is opposing. How can INEC object that their own documents can’t be recounted? It is worrisome”.

“In addition, that representatives should come from interested counsels, 2 officials of INEC and secretary to the tribunal to as a matter of urgency immediately commence the recounting of ballot papers and that after the counting a comprehensive schedule should be made to show the results of all parties to be brought to your lordship and the entire world to see”.

Meanwhile ahead of the ruling on the recounting by the tribunal, Ali (SAN) has requested that the court beef up security in and around the tribunal premises, to secure the ballot papers which have become very sensitive materials.

http://www.urhokpotareporters.com/2017/02/08/tribunal-rules-in-favour-of-pdp-allows-subpoeanaed-witnesses-to-testify/

Supporting information for those still doubting what happened in Edo 2016 election. International observers views..
http://breaking.com.ng/nigeria/international-observers-say-edo-guber-poll-results-were-doctored/&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwjsza-P8YDSAhXBOxQKHZOuBM8QFggqMAc&usg=AFQjCNELYHDn8WbEhqsJ7Jn6vOtjn_LoGw

Modified

Following

sarrki:
Following

i bet you want to modify and type nonsense

Wow.. Wow.. Wow.. Jxt what a wow!

whats my own...

Obaseki is gradually going.....

Edo people mandate will be restored

He said that the arguments from all the respondents particularly that of counsel to governor Godwin Obaseki, Mr Ken Mozai, (SAN) were not only inappropriate and irrelevant but inapplicable

.

He argued that, “This application ought not to be opposed by anybody who has nothing to hide. A case like this at the tribunal is a trial of democracy and our electoral process”.

He said, “This is not the kind of case we should be playing hide and seek;am so disappointed that INEC whose documents were subpoeanae to court, who ought to be spearheading this application is opposing. How can INEC object that their own documents can’t be recounted? It is worrisome”.

What is APC, INEC and Obaseki afraid of?
I thought they and their Nairaland zombies claim Obaseki won Edo election.

Meanwhile ahead of the ruling on the recounting by the tribunal, Ali (SAN) has requested that the court beef up security in and around the tribunal premises, to secure the ballot papers which have become very sensitive materials.

The ballot papers must be recounted in court, whether APC, INEC and Obaseki likes it or not.

Edo people votes must count.