Oyo Election Tribunal: Ajimobi’s Counsel Lines up Witnesses for Cross Examination

By Adeola Oladele, Ibadan

As the petition filed by the governorship candidate of Accord party in the last general election, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, against the election of Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State enters its crucial stage, counsel to the governor has begun lining up its witnesses for cross-examination.

At the sitting of the tribunal on Thursday, four witnesses were cross-examined by the petitioner’s counsel. Three of them were party agents and one a collation agent.

When the first witness, Mr. Remi Adebayo, was called by the respondent’s counsel into the witness box, he said he resides at Lagun town in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State and that he is a member of the All Progressives Congress.

During his cross-examination, the witness said the election was transparently conducted in his domain, adding that Accord won 52 votes, while APC-50 votes and PDP 17 votes in the local government.

Also, while being cross-examined, the immediate-past Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Ibadan North West Local Government, Mr. Wasiu Olatubosun, also said the governorship election in the state was free, fair and credible, stating that there was no rigging whatsoever.

Answering another question on how he knew the election was free and fair throughout the state when he was in his own local government, Mr. Olatubosun said though, he was not all over the state, but that he had agents throughout the state who briefed him from time to time on the election in their areas.

The two other witnesses, Mr .Waidi Ajibade and Mr. Akande Adewale, said it was not true that there were irregularities in the conduct of the governorship election in the state.

They maintained that the election was held peacefully in those areas they monitored, adding that no election malpractice was recorded by any APC member.