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From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and his main challenger in the March 18 election, Ovie Omo-Agege of the All Progressive Congress (APC), have adopted their final written addresses at the governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Asaba.
Oborevwori of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). But Omo-Agege, immediate past seputy Senate president, filed a petition to dispute the outcome and to be declared winner.
The three-member tribunal headed by Justice C.H. Ahuchaogu, after listening to counsel to the parties adopt their final written addresses, yesterday, reserved judgement for a later date to be be communicated to the parties and their counsels.
Counsel of the first respondent, INEC, Prof. J. Abugu, relied on a 30-page written address in its entirety, and urged the tribunal to strike out the petition for lack of merit
Counsel of Oborevwori, second respondent, Damian Dodo, wholly adopted all the arguments encapsulated in his final written address in urging the tribunal to throw out the petition. Saying that the petition was bound to fail, he argued that the nature and character of the allegations made by the petitioner were such that the “witnesses called by the petitioner could not and have not, even with the documents brought to the court, prove the petition.
“Petitions by their nature must be proved by evidence; this, the petitioners have failed to do.”
Counsel to the third respondent (PDP), Ekeme Ohwovoriole, in adopting his written address, said the petition was based on speculations and deserved to be dismissed.
But counsel to the petitioners, Alex Izinyon, urged the tribunal to hold that the petitioners proved the petition and therefore entitled to the reliefs sought.
He argued that the petitioner, have by the nature of the pleadings and the documents tendered proved the case and urged the tribunal to declare the petitioner as winner of the election.
