Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will begin the defence of his victory at polls today, August 16, before the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the March 9, governorship election, Mr. Emmanuel Jime had filed a petition against his electoral victory.
Counsel to Gov. Ortom, Edward Ashieka, SAN, told the tribunal at the end of proceedings on Thursday that his client would call few witnesses and close his case.
Ashieka also told the tribunal headed by Justice Henry Olusiyi that his client would have followed the line of INEC which called no witness but election petition cases were sui generis (time bound).
INEC lawyer, Offiong Offiong, SAN, had earlier told the tribunal that he would not call any witness because witnesses presented by Jime and APC had said the election was free, fair and credible.
Ruling on the submissions, chairman of the tribunal, Justice Henry Olusiyi, gave Ortom five days to open and close his defence and adding that the PDP would take the stage after that.
He accordingly adjourned the case to Friday, August 16, for Ortom to open his defence..
