Rivers ADP scores point as Tribunal accepts tendering INEC’s documents from Bar    …Adjourns till August 21.

The 3-man Rivers state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal led by Justice J.A. Orjiako, has ruled that sensitive electoral documents, which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has in its  possession that is relevant to the Action Democratic Party (ADP) and its gubernatorial candidate, Mr. Victor Tamie Fingesi, be allowed to be tendered by the party from the bar.

It further ruled that the procedure to tender it from the bar was acceptable but, however, stated that it did not amount to admissibility of the documents.

The ruling of the tribunal arose when the counsel to ADP, Mr. Dolapo Tella Attoni, cross- examined a PDP witness for ward 3,Igbo 1, Etche local government area, Mr. Nwaobilor Jonas Morgan and found out that the results for his ward were in the possession of his party PDP, which could have been front-loaded by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC).

He, therefore, sought to tender the documents from the bar. This was opposed by the counsels to Gov. Nyesom Wike,  Emmanuel Ukala(SAN) and PDP, Ken Njemanze(SAN), who argued that it was not a proper procedure and urged the tribunal to reject the tendering.

More witnesses were called by Gov. Wike and PDP, who told the tribunal under cross- examination that they did not come to the tribunal with the results of their wards as they were handed over to the party.

One of the witnesses, Mr. Chioma Ogwugwueli of ward 3, Emohua local government area, admitted that he was the ward collation agent for PDP, which his appointment letter corroborated.

However, his party’s tag tendered in the tribunal bore local government area collation agent.

He further admitted that he knew the local government collation agent, whom he named as Mr. Adiele Ogbor.

He also stated that he did not know whether INEC officers signed form EC8B in line with INEC guidelines.

The tribunal adjourned to August 21, 2019 for continuation of defense by Gov.Wike.