2023 Election: Ogun Tribunal Admits BVAS Reports, Others As Exhibits Against Abiodun

The Ogun State governorship election petition Tribunal on Thursday had admitted the reports of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS) and other documents as evidence against governor Dapo Abiodun.

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Honourable Oladipupo Adebutu in a petition marked, EPT/OG/GOV/03/2023 is challenging victory of Mr Dapo Abiodun based on alleged non-compliance to the Electoral Act and corrupt practices during the election.

King Victor Nigeria Enterprises

Ladi Adebutu, through his counsel, Goddy Uche (SAN) tendered the BIVAS reports, INEC results and other documents, totalling 8,000 before the three-man Tribunal.

Our correspondent had gathered that Uche had on Tuesday presented the documents before Tribunal and prayed the court to admit them as “exhibits” against Abiodun.

But, the respondents requested that they be allowed to inspect the documents before they could be admitted from the bar.

The Chairman of the Tribunal, Hamidu Kunaza had given both the petitioners and the respondents Tuesday and Wednesday to inspect all undisputed documents and re-present same on Thursday.

Related News:

• 10th Senate: Bamidele Emerged Senate Leader, Mwadkwon Leads Minority
• 10th Senate: Bamidele Emerged Senate Leader, Mwadkwon Leads Minority
• NBS: Airfare Rises By 34.06% In One Year

Some of the documents include: 176-page BVAS reports; one certificate of compliance; an INEC receipt; Form EC8A – declaration of result from INEC; Form EC8D – summary of results from local governments; Form EC8Cs for the 20 LGAs; Form EC8Bs for Abeokuta North, Abeokuta South, Ado-Odo/Ota, Egbado North, Egbado South, Ewekoro, Ifo, Ijebu North, Ijebu North East, Ijebu-Ode, Ikenne and others.

At they resumed sitting on Thursday, Uche re-presented the documents, informing the court that the respondents had inspected the documents as ordered.

Re-presenting the documents, Uche said, “they (respondents) have inspected the documents and subject to any other thing, we are ready for the tendering”.

Speaking, counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Remi Olatubora, confirmed that the documents were as released by the commission.

In her words, counsel to Abiodun, Titilola Akinlawon, said the documents had been inspected, but the second respondent, Gov Dapo Abiodun, would reserve his objection to the admissibility of the documents till the final addresses.

King Victor Nigeria Enterprises

Likewise, lawyer to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Onyechi Ikpeazu, also said the party’s objections to some of the documents are reserved till the final addresses.

Ruling, the Hamidu Kunaza-led Tribunal admitted the documents and marked them as exhibits.

“All documents are to be admitted from the bar and objections reserved till final addresses,” the Tribunal ruled.