Guber Election Tribunal: tension heightens as PDP is set to close case, presents star witnesses

By David Okpashi

THE People’s Democratic party (PDP) on Wednesday said it is ready to close it case brought before the governorship election tribunal sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State.

This is even as the party said it’s ready to present it’s star witness, present critical documents before the tribunal.

Lead counsel to PDP and its candidate, Emmanuel David Ombugadu, Samuel J Okutekp (SAN) insisted that the INEC Director of ICT present certified documents, including Form EC8A, Form EC8B, during the tribunal sitting as it will aid the tribunal and the petitioner.

Okutekpa said the presentation of the key documents by the INEC Director of ICT was necessary since the director was
summoned to present critical documents in the election.

Okutepa while tendering the documents before the tribunal proceeded with a strategic presentation of the Form EC8A documents for all the 13 local government areas in Nasarawa state, submitted a certified copy of the manual, Regulations, and Guidelines for the 2023 General Elections. a set of certified true copies of Form EC8B totally seven.

Critical documents and certified copy of Form EC8A, which contained electoral records from affected polling units in Lafia Local Government Area were tendered and admitted by the tribunal.

While assuring the court of his availability whenever required, the INEC Director of ICT represented by the Deputy Director INEC ICT, Ama Ibong Agwu received no objections from the respondents – INEC, APC, and Engr AA Sule.

After the Highlight of the critical point in his case, Okutepa appealed to the tribunal to allow him present one final star witness prepared to testify adding that the presentation of the star witness will mark the formal closure of PDP’s case and expressed his readiness for the final address.

In defence,the first,second and the third Respondents (INEC, APC and Governor Sule counsels respectively raised no objections to all the documents tendered.

The tribunal then adjourned the sitting to August 17, 2023 even as the turn of events became heightened among observers as the tribunal listens to the defence by the APC and its candidate