By DAYO JOHNSON, Akure
GOVERNOR Olusegun Mimiko and the Labour party yesterday closed their defence at the Election Petition Tribunal insisting that the election that brought him back to office was free, fair and in compliance with the electoral law.

Dr Mimiko called 14 defence witnesses to prove that the election was free, fair and violence free across the 18 council area of the state.

At the resumtion of his defence yesterday, one of the governor’s counsel John Baiyeshea SAN, told the three member tribunal headed by Justice Andover that the respondent (Dr Mimiko) has found it legally convenient and prudent to close his defence having established that the election was free, fair and without violence.

According to him, the respondent having critically analysed the situation on ground has found it convenient not to continue with the defence.

The hurried stoppage of the defence after calling 14 witnesses caught many unawares, but counsel to the governor said that they have been able to defend the victory that brought the governor back to office.

Baiyeshea said that, “My client finds it more convenient to not to continue his defence.”

Similarly, the LP counsel Ayo Olanrewaju also informed the panel that his client was equally willing to close its case.

Olanrewaju informed the tribunal that the party was satisfied with the witnesses called by the first respondent (the governor).

Counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mr Tunde Fasola  described the development as surprising and asked the tribunal to give him  till Friday to open INEC’s defence.

In his ruling, the head of the tribunal cautioned INEC against delaying proceedings at the  tribunal.