The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday in Abuja, commenced its defence of the outcome of the April 11, 2015 governorship election in Rivers State.
In opening its defence before the Justice Suleiman Ambrusa-led Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, the commission produced one of its electoral officers, Mr. Ebikoru Tebekaemi, who participated in the conduct of the election, to testify.
He told the tribunal that he was the electoral officer that supervised the governorship poll at Obiakpo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
He added that. contrary to the evidence of the witnesses that were produced by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Dakuku Peterside, there was no incident of ballot snatching or multiple voting at Obiakpo.
When asked by counsel for the petitioners, Chief Akinolu Olujimi (SAN), if he was aware that there was widespread rigging and hijacking of electoral materials by armed thugs, the witness said he was not aware that such an incident occurred.
He insisted that election was duly conducted in 15 out of 17 wards in the LGA, saying “My Lords, it was only at wards 12 and 13, which are Rumuigbo and Rumokuta, that election did not take place.”
During a cross-examination by counsel for the petitioners, Tebekaemi said he was not also aware that people were seen at a football pitch making thumbprints on ballot papers in favour of Governor Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The witness also told the tribunal that from his record, a total of 304,745 voters were accredited at the LGA, adding, however, that only a total number of 40,481 voters were accredited with the Card Reader Machines.
When counsel for the PDP, Mr. Ifedayo Adedipe (SAN), was asked if it was true that lack of electoral materials affected the governorship election, Tebekaemi said he could only give evidence with regard to Obiakpo LGA which was under his watch.
“I can confirm that sufficient electoral materials were distributed across Obiakpor and other parts of Rivers State during the governorship election,” Tebekaemi added.
A copy of the election result sheets from Obiakpor LGA was among the exhibits that were tendered before the tribunal by the witness.
The tribunal adjourned till Friday (18/09/15), to enable INEC to produce more witnesses.
The petitioners had closed their case on Wednesday (16/09/15) after they called a total of 58 witnesses that testified that the election was marred by violence and widespread irregularities.