Awara vs Wike: Wike presents star witness as tribunal fixes date for final written addresses

Tina Amanda

The Rivers State Gubernatorial Election Petition Tribunal in Port Harcourt has fixed 30th September for the adoption of final written addresses of parties in the election petition matter filed by the African Action Congress, AAC, and its Governorship candidate, AWARA BIOKPOMABO, challenging the Victory of Governor Nyesom Wike in the March 9th election.

The three-man panel led by Justice KINGSLEY OJIAKOR gave the date after the second Respondent, Governor Nyesom Wike closed his case with a star witness, who is the Director-General, PDP Campaign Organization, DESMOND AKAWOR.

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Testifying before the Tribunal, DESMOND AKAWOR confirmed that INEC had concluded collation of results of seventeen (17) Local government areas before the collation process was suspended at the state collation level.

He added that INEC was yet to collate results of six (6) local Government Areas before the suspension of the collation process.

Akawor presented form EC8A containing the results of 16 Local government areas, polling units results of 129 wards, and photocopies of the units results, adding that INEC did not suspend election process, but collation process due to violence in some collation centres.

He also presented a document containing form EC8E which is the declaration of results, certificate of return and certificate of former AAC Deputy Governorship candidate of Rivers State denouncing the party before even the results were announced.

EBERECHI ADIELE, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and counsel to PDP Counsel, informed the tribunal that his client would not be presenting any witness in the matter.

Justice KINGSLEY OJIAKOR adjourned to 30th September and gave the parties three days to file in their final written addresses.

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Speaking to our reporter Tina Amanda, Counsel to the 1st petitioner, EMENIKE EBETE, said trial in the case of leading evidences on the petition they filed before the tribunal has been concluded, stressing that 3rd Respondent PDP told the tribunal that they wouldn’t call witnesses as they will rely on the evidence already led in the case.

On his part, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, EBERECHI ADIELE, Counsel to 3rd Respondent, PDP, said they had concluded all their evidence while awaiting to adopt their final written addresses in the matter.