Election Petition: Oshiomhole Closes Case, INEC Opens Defence January 9

Uchechukwu Olisah, Benin City - 15.12.2007

The Edo State Action Congress (AC) and its governorship candidate in last April election, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on Friday closed their case in the petition they filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Oserheimen Osunbor.

The petitioners, who called 60 witnesses, had gone to the tribunal in the state, challenging INEC’s declaration of Osunbor of the PDP as winner of the election.

The closing of Oshiomhole and AC’s case had paved the way for the INEC to open its defence of the returning of Osunbor as winner of the governorship election.

The INEC, through its Head of Operations in the state, Mr. Olawale Kayode, had on Monday insisted, while giving evidence as Oshiomhole’s witness, that Osunbor won the election because he scored majority of the lawful votes cast.

The INEC counsel, Mr. Roland Otaru (SAN), said on Friday that the commission would require two weeks to examine its witnesses.