The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Asaba, has admitted an evidence documents tendered by the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Olorogun Barr. Kenneth Gbagi.
The tribunal admitted the evidences earlier tendered by the lead counsel to Gbagi, Mr. Magaji Mato Ibrahim, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The counsel to the SDP gubernatorial candidate told the 3-man panel of Judges led by Justice C.H Ahuchaogu, that the election which produced the governorship candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, as governor of the state, was characterized with irregularities, electoral malpractices, non-compliance to the 2022 Electoral Act, amongst others.
Though, counsels to the first to the 13th respondents made failed attempts to object to the evidences and said that they would canvass the reasons for their objections in their final written addresses.
Justice Ahuchaogu, told the counsels that in as much they have allowed the documents to be tendered from the bar, their actions implies that they have given their consent for the documents to be tendered, adding that they have the opportunity to object in their final written addresses.
After much argument from the counsels, which bowed to the superior argument of Magaji, Justice Ahuchaogu, ruled that the petitioners would have to prove the substance of such documents.
Justice Ahuchaogu granted Magaji’s application to tender the documents and The case was then adjourned the case for hearing on July 19 and 20, 2023.
