The Independent National Electoral Commission has presented additional eight witnesses to defend the conduct of governorship election in Rivers State on 11th of April.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has presented additional eight witnesses to defend the conduct of governorship election in Rivers State on 11th of April. Following the latest development at the Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja, INEC has now presented sixteen witnesses in all. Our Abuja correspondent JAMES IGAH reports that the witnesses are among individuals who served as electoral presiding officers at the unit levels, mainly members of the National Youth Service Corps scheme who were recruited as ad hoc staff by INEC. Some of the areas covered by the witnesses include Andoni Ward ten-Unit four; Degema Ward fourteen-Unit nine, and Ward One-unit three; as well as polling units in Gokana and Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Areas. All the witnesses affirmed that elections did hold in the various areas they covered on the 11th of April, adding that they did not witness violence during the exercise. They denied seeing any military officer during the elections, adding that they used manual accreditation when their card readers fail to work. Counsel to INEC, ALEX IKPEAZU spoke with journalists outside the court on the outcome of the proceedings.
On his part; counsel to Governor NYESOM WIKE, OKEY WALI who is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, expressed confidence in the testimonies by the witnesses. PDP’s counsel. Chief CHRIS UCHE expressed joy that all the witnesses confirmed that elections held in Rivers State. However, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, AKIN OLUJIM who counsel to the APC and its governorship candidate, DAKUKU PETERSIDE, said it was up to the court to decide whether the testimonies by the witnesses were sufficient to override that of witnesses presented on behalf of the petitioners. INEC is expected to conclude its defense of the Rivers State Government Election today.