Festus Abiodun Inioluwa, a witness at the the Ogun State Governorship Election Tribunal, in Abeokuta, said that some police officers manning his polling unit ran away when political thugs stormed and disrupted the exercise during the March 18 election.
Information Nigeria reports that the witness gave evidence in the petition filed by Ladi Adebutu, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
It is worthy of note that Adebutu’s lawyer, Gordy Uche, has called over 80 witnesses, including two ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) since he opened his case weeks ago.
Four witnesses who appeared before the tribunal on Friday were Festus Abiodun Inioluwa, Balogun Oladipo, Gbenga Mustapha and Emmanuel Olugbile.
They were cross-examined by Remi Olatubora representing INEC, Taiwo Osipitan who appeared for Abiodun and Tayo Oyetibo, who represented APC.
During cross-examination, Inioluwa, an agent of PDP, told the tribunal that political thugs disrupted the election at Polling Unit 12, Ward 6 in Sagamu Local Government.
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He said police officers and other security agents manning the polling unit ran away during the disruption of the exercise.
Responding to whether or not he reported the alleged disruption to the police, the witness said: “I did not report. Police officers were on ground, but they ran away when thugs stormed the polling units and disrupted the exercise.”
Inioluwa also agreed with his Party that a total of 49,066 voters were disenfranchised during the State March 18 poll.
On his part, Oladipo, who is a PDP youth leader in Sagamu, stated that almost 99 polling units were attacked across Ogun State.
This, according to him, was why the PDP went to court.
Gbenga, a witness from Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, said: “No result was recorded for any of the parties. The thugs scattered everywhere and we all ran away. My mother dragged me home.”
Meanwhile, the Justice Hamidu Kunaza-led tribunal adjourned proceedings till Monday, July 24 for continuation of the hearing.
