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Aimufa Kemi, a witness to Omosede Igbinedion, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the February 23, Ovia Federal Constituency election on Monday said the election in her polling unit was cancelled because the exercise was disrupted by gunmen.
Kemi, who is a ward leader in Ovia South-west Local Government made the allegation while testifying before the Edo State election petition tribunal sitting in Benin City.
Omosede of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is challenging the declaration of Dennis Idahosa, as the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Kemi said she did not vote during the election because gunmen in black jeep stormed the polling unit and shot sporadically into the air to chase voters away from the unit.
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The witness, who was being cross-examined by counsel to INEC, Ehiabhi J.O, said: “I did not vote because there was problem in my unit (Ward 04, polling unit 007) in Ovia South-west Local Government Area.
“As voting was ongoing, suddenly, a black jeep drove in and started shooting sporadically and indiscriminately into the air. Because of that, the election in the unit was cancelled. I went to the INEC office at Iguobazuawa to lay complaint and met the electoral officer”.
Also, under cross-examination by the counsel to the APC candidate, the witness said only five people were accredited before the card reader developed a fault.
According to her, voting and accreditation resumed after it was fixed and thereafter, election process was disrupted.
Meanwhile, a report document from a witness, Sunday Adele, tendered by the petitioner’s counsel, Osarenkhoe Austine, was however, objected to by counsel to APC, Enahoro Aghomon.
Aghomon argued that it is only certified true copy of a public document that is admissible in court and not photocopy by virtue of section 105 of the evidence act.
But counsel to INEC, Ehiabhi J.O, also aligned with the rejection of the report form because the alleged electoral officer, Evans Chukwu did not acknowledge the letter and it was not also stamped.
The Justice Ogundana-led 3-man tribunal who admitted the document as exhibit, however, reserved ruling and objection on it till the final judgment.
