Connect with us

News

Abaribe closes defence in suit challenging his election

Published

on

Senator-Eyinnaya-Abaribe

The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday closed his defence at the National and State Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Umuahia, Abia.

Abaribe is the second respondent in the petition filed by the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and its candidate, Mr Chris Nkwonta, seeking to nullify the declaration of Abaribe as the winner of the Feb. 23 poll for Abia South Senatorial District.

Nkwonta, who claimed to have won the majority of the lawful votes cast, is urging the tribunal to declare him winner.

READ ALSO: EFCC RAID: No cause for alarm —Ambode

Nkwonta closed his case after calling 33 witnesses, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) closed its defence as the first respondent, after calling one witness.

In an application to close his defence, Mr Chukwuma-Machukwu Umeh (SAN), counsel for Abaribe, told the tribunal that they were satisfied with the evidence of their witnesses.

“We are very grateful to this honourable tribunal. We are very satisfied with the evidence we have led and we will be closing our defence as the second respondent,” Umeh said.

Following the application, Mr Henry Balogu, counsel for PDP, told the tribunal that they would open their defence as the third respondent.

“We have been taken by surprise. We are asking for Thursday, Aug. 22 to open and close our defence the same day,” he said.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Adeyinka Adebirigbe, later adjourned sitting to Aug. 22 for the third respondent (PDP) to open its defence.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now