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PDP Closes Defence At Delta Tribunal Without Calling Witnesses

By Hendrix Oliomogbe, Asaba
19 September 2015   |   2:40 am
IT was drama at the Delta State governorship tribunal sitting in Asaba, the Delta state capital, yesterday when against heightened expectations of further legal fire works, the second respondent, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), announced the closure of its defence without bothering to call any witness.

Ughelli mapIT was drama at the Delta State governorship tribunal sitting in Asaba, the Delta state capital, yesterday when against heightened expectations of further legal fire works, the second respondent, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), announced the closure of its defence without bothering to call any witness.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its gubernatorial candidate, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor is challenging Okowa’s victory at the poll at tribunal.

The tribunal had adjourned on Wednesday to allow the PDP commence its defence on Friday by calling its witnesses having filed over 50 witnesses statements on oath.

Okowa, the first respondent, had on Wednesday closed his defence without calling any further witnesses having called only three out of the over 20 witnesses he had earlier proposed.

At the resumed sitting, PDP’s counsel, Chief T.A Kehinde SAN, shocked the tribunal when he announced that he would not be calling witnesses but would be relying on the witnesses already called by the first respondent and the earlier cross examination of the petitioner’s witnesses. He noted that on this basis, he has chosen to close his defence.

Taken aback by this unexpected announcement, the tribunal gave the go ahead for the third respondent, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to commence its defence.

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