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From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori and his party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday objected to the tendering and admission of forms EC25B, EC40A, EC40B and EC40C used during the March 18, 2023 election across the 25 local government areas of the state.
Candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and former Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, tendered the documents from the bar before the governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Asaba, at the resumed hearing of his petition against the return of Oborevwori as winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Counsel to Oborevwori who is the second respondent, Samson Egege and his PDP counterpart, Ekeme Ohwovoriole (SAN) raised the objection to admission of the documents in evidence.
They however told the three-member tribunal headed by Justice C.H. Ahuchaogu that the grounds of their objection would be canvassed in the final written addresses.
Counsel to the petitioners, Bello Abu tendered a total of 3,728 INEC forms comprising of 1,036 EC25B, 941 EC40A, 880 EC40B and 871 EC40C used across the 25 councils during the polls.
Abu who held the brief of A.K Osawota, also tendered receipts of payment for the Certified True Copies (CTCs) of forms EC25B and EC40 series which the two respondents also objected to but reserved their grounds of objection to final written addresses.
However, the respondents were not opposed to the tendering of original copy of INEC Manual for Electoral Officers, 2023 as well as the CTC of INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Election, 2022 together with receipt of payment.
Despite their objection, the tribunal admitted all the tendered documents in evidence and duly marker them as exhibits in the on going trial.
The tribunal thereafter adjourned the petition to July 24 for continuation of hearing.
