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Fear grips Akpabio as INEC withdraws from defence
…anxiety in ex-governors camp
…Tribunal fix October 5 for adoption of written addresses
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday withdrew from defence as the 2nd Respondent in the suit instituted by Chief Inibehe Okori of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who is challenging the declaration of former Governor Godswill Akpabio as winner of the Akwa Ibom North West senatorial district election held on March 28,2015.
The electoral body called only one witness on its first day of defence on Monday with a promise to call additional five witnesses. Surprisingly, at the resumed hearing of the petition on Tuesday, counsel to INEC, Paul Ananabah SAN, told the tribunal that having reviewed their case they have decided to close their defence. INEC’s defence ended on the 158th day of the trial.
The tribunal has fixed October 5,2015 for adoption of written addresses. The Respondents were given five days upon which they are to serve the petitioners their written address while the petitioners have four days to reply and two days to reply on point of law if any. Akpabio (1st Respondent) called 19 out of 1169 witnesses, INEC (2nd Respondent) called just one witness while the PDP (3rd Respondent) called three witnesses.
