Tina Amanda
Hearing has commenced in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and its candidate for the Rivers State House Assembly Asari-Toru Constituency 1, Wellington Tekena Grandville, against Social Democratic party SDP, and INEC which is seeking to cancel the election of the candidate of Social Democratic Party, SDP, Ipalibo George into the state House Assembly.
The petition is contesting the result declared by INEC in which PDP scored 1,800 votes and SDP scored 16,232 votes.
Testifying before the tribunal, Warmate Ebenezer John, who said he worked as a Polling Agent in Ward 5, Unit 5 in Asari-Toru local government area for PDP and its state House Assembly candidate, said PDP won in his polling unit with a total score of 165 votes and SDP 3 votes.
He stressed that the original EC8A form for the Governorship and State House Assembly was signed by him at the polling unit.
Also, Firebosima Preye, Polling agent for Ward 6 Asari-Toru, told the tribunal that PDP won in his polling unit when the result was announced.
On his part, Ayirite Mac-Donald, Polling agent for unit 25, Ward 3 Buguma, told the tribunal that election did not hold in his unit as thugs of SDP hijacked the electoral materials.
Speaking to our reporter, Tina Amanda, Counsel to PDP, Dike Udenna, said PDP is not convinced that the result is a true reflection of what transpired at the various polling units of Asari-Toru local government, which they have produced a duplicate copy of the polling units’ result.
He stressed that the result sheets INEC used to declare SDP winner was Senate result sheet and not that of State House Assembly result sheet.
Counsel to SDP, Somina ELEKIMA, said they won the state House Assembly election in Asari-Toru local government, adding that it clearly shows that only PDP signed the duplicate result sheet which has been produced in the tribunal.
