Tribunal tells Airhiavbere to produce all witnesses

By SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN—THE Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Edo State resumed sitting yesterday, amidst tight security, with the tribunal chairman, Justice Mu’azu Pindinga, asking the governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd), to hasten up the workings of the tribunal by making all his witnesses available.

The tribunal is hearing part of Airhiavbere’s petition that alleged irregularities in the July 14, 2012 governorship election in the state. It would be recalled that the Appeal Court had penultimate week ordered the tribunal to commence hearing on the aspect of the petition that dealt with the educational qualification of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, which was earlier thrown out by the Tribunal.

However, Oshiomhole’s Counsel, led by Niyi Akintola (SAN), grilled the five witnesses brought before the tribunal by Airhiavbere for over five hours, as the witnesses made efforts to prove that the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, rigged the election that was adjudged by both local and international observers as the freest and fairest election in the country.