Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has produced the press release publication of 10th and 15th March 2019, which the Petitioner challenging the re-election of Governor Nyesom Wike in the just concluded gubernatorial election, the Action Democratic Party, ADP, and its Governorship candidate, Victor Fingesi, sought for, before the Gubernatorial election petition Tribunal in Port Harcourt.
The document is said to be stating that the 2019 Governorship election in the state was marred by violence.
Counsel to INEC Dr Garba Tetengi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, presented the document but it is yet to be tendered in court as Counsel to ADP has not done the needful.
Witnessing before the tribunal, the second petitioner in the suit, the Governorship candidate of ADP in Rivers State, Victor Fingesi, told the tribunal that the governorship election in the state was suspended by INEC due to Electoral violence, stressing that he was unable to vote in his ward 9, unit 9 Okuojagu-ama, in Okrika local government area, as INEC official did not come to his polling unit.
Fingesi alleged further that casting of vote and collation of result did not take place across all the local government areas of the state, adding that it was a purported election.
He, however, said that he got reports from the party agents in the field that the election was marred by violence.
The chairman of the 3-man tribunal, Justice KA Ojiako struck out some paragraphs contained in the witness statement of oath, after arguments made by the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondent counsels that same statement had earlier been expunged by the tribunal in the statement of the 1st petitioner.
Justice KA Ojiako struck out the paragraphs after due consideration on the grounds that if the paragraphs are taken in, they will become a piece of evidence.
Justice KA Ojiako adjourned to 18th of July, for the continuation of hearing.
Speaking to our reporter Tina Amanda, Emmanuel Okala Counsel, to Governor Nyesom Wike, said INEC and other respondents will open their case at the next adjourned date.
Dolapo Tella-Attoni who is the counsel to Fingesi and the ADP said the evidence that was rejected during the trial can form the bases of their appeal in the matter if they are aggrieved after the judgement.
He said that their case is founded on the fact that election in Rivers State was marred by electoral violence which is contained in the press release published by INEC.
