Edo election petition tribunal: Obaseki witnesses indict INEC

As sitting continued in the ongoing Edo Elections  tribunal sitting in Benin city, the second respondent Mr Godwin Obaskei today called in more witnesses who indicted INEC for not training them on proper accreditation procedure during elections.

The witnesses called by Obaseki in his defence respectively took the witness stand, after his lawyer got the nod to correct what he called an error on a witness deposition.
It was the fifth day out of the ten allowed him in the petition filed by the PDP and its governorship candidate in the 2016 Edo governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu challenging INEC role in the process where he was Obaseki was granted victory.

After Mr. Obaseki’s counsel, Ken Mozia, SAN, got the tribunal to allow him correct an error detected error in a witness’ deposition in terms of local government identity, from Oredo local government area to Egor LG before the first witness, Hon. Eddy Igbinogun from Egor stepped into the witness box.
He told the court that there was INEC officials carried out accreditation and voting in his unit, although he admitted that  neither the INEC nor his party, the APC trained him on how to fucntion during the elections like how the accreditation process is supposed to be carried out.

The second witness, also from Egor like Igbinogun, who is a resident at the Enogie of Uwelu’s palace while being cross-examined was unable to explain a line line, “Figment of his imagination,”  in his deposition claiming  that it was a lawyer that inserted the clause.

The third witness, Mr. Monday from Orhionmwon local government told the court that due accreditation and voting took place in his unit, but while Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, counsel to the Petitioner, showed him the voters register for his unit, it was discovered that there was no accreditation of any form.

Mrs. Felicia Amadin, also from Orhionmwon caused a stir during her time in the witness box, while being cross examined.
Asked to clarify a point in the voters’ register she said her reading glasses were at home even as she screamed at the counsel,  "Am a woman ooo. Is it because am a woman you are pressing me like dis".

The comment amused the entire court whereupon the tribunal chairman Justice Ahmed Badamasi advised the PDP counsel to, "Please press her gently...".
Apologising Pinheiro, SAN said, "Sorry that I pressed you"   - Kemi Ponheiro as he closed the witness.

Another witness, called by Obaseki Mr. Eric Eromosele from Orhionmwon who was being cross- examined at press time told the court there was accreditation before voting in his unit, and that this can be confirmed from the Voters register for his unit.