Oyo Governorship: Adelabu’s Hope Dashed, As INEC Closes Case Against Makinde

By Akinwale Kasali

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has dashed the hope of the  All Progressives Congress, APC, Governorship Candidate in Oyo State at the 2019 Polls, Adebayo Adelabu, following the closure of the petition filed by Adelabu against the winner of the election, Seyi Makinde.

The Electoral body’s counsel, Akinlolu Kehinde (SAN), closed the case after calling only one witness in the petition before the Oyo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

Kehinde told the tribunal that he was closing his case because INEC had discharged its burden of proof on the matter based on the evidences of his witness and petitioners’ witnesses.

The INEC witness at the tribunal was Kehinde Aderike, an INEC staff ,who was the Electoral Officer in Ibadan South East Local Government during the election.

The tribunal led by Justice Muhammed Sirajo called on Makinde’s counsel, Ahamefula Ekejelam (SAN), to open his case.

Ekejelam told the tribunal that he did not envisage that INEC would only call one witness and close his case.

He told the tribunal that his witnesses were coming from different local governments in Oyo State and that he needed time to contact them.

He prayed the tribunal to adjourn the case till Thursday for him to open his case and an adjournment was consequently granted by the tribunal.

Aderike had earlier told the tribunal during cross examination by Ekejelam that there was no report of polling units not getting election materials during the governorship election.

She also told the tribunal that she ensured that the election went on smoothly as an electoral officer.