More witnesses presented by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the disputed Akwa Ibom governorship election have testified that the election in the state was free, fair and complied with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010.
At the resumed hearing of the Akwa Ibom Election Tribunal on Thursday, a defence witness, Samuel Iyang, told the Justice Sadiq Umar-led panel that it was false that elections did not take place, as alleged by the petitioner.
The witness told the tribunal that not only was the election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but that it was peaceful and recorded a large turnout of voters.
Under cross examination by Counsel to the Petitioner, Dayo Akinlaja (SAN), the witness insisted that there was no violence, prompting Akinlaja to confront him with a Police report, which had been earlier submitted as an exhibit to the tribunal.
In the report, which the witness read to the tribunal, three people were said to have been murdered as reported to the Police on the election day .
The tribunal also discountenanced the question on the Police Report, on the ground that the witness was not the maker as stated by the Counsel to the Governor .
Also testifying, one Tony Nkangude informed the tribunal that he voted in the elections.
However under cross examination, Nkangude who said that his party, the PDP had agents in all the polling units and wards in his local government, was given result sheets for the election in his local government, which shows that one Jerry Akpan signed the result sheets on behalf of all the 14 wards in his Local Government.
Also reacting to the statement by the Akwa Ibom State Attorney-General, Mr. Uwem Nwoko, that the All Progressive Congress (APC) in its case has shown that the elections substantially complied with the Electoral Act, Mr. Akinladja says his client will not join issues with anyone outside the tribunal.
The Counsel to the Petitioner said he is optimistic that the tribunal, which is the statutory body to determine any petition will do justice to his client’s case.