The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ondo State, Mr. Segun Agbaje Thursday said the April 11 State Assembly poll at Ilaje Constituency II, was declared under duress.
The REC said the election would have been declared inconclusive but for the security report that it should be declared conclusive for the safety of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officers.
He said from reports available to him by his officers , the said election was marred with irregularities and violence.
The INEC boss gave the disclosure while giving witness at the ongoing House of Assembly Tribunal on the April 11 election in Ilaje constituency 2.
Mr. Agbaje explained that the Electoral officer in Ilaje, Mr. Ajala called to inform him about the tensed atmosphere in the area.
He said the electoral officers were advised to declare the result after seeking security advice from the then commissioner of Police, Mr. Isaac Eke who confirmed the tensed atmosphere.
“On the fateful day, at about quarter to four, Mr. Ajala, the electoral officer called me, he briefed me about the tensed atmosphere in the area”
“He said his life and that of the returning officer are in danger. I told him, I will call him back”
“At about ten minutes to four, I phoned the then Commissioner of Police, Mr. Isaac Eke. He said he was going to call me back. At exactly ten minutes after four, he called back and told me that he has gotten in touch with his officers on phone, he confirmed that the area was tensed”
Mr. Agbaje further disclosed that the then Police boss advised him that for the safety of INEC officials in the area, the election result should not be declared inconclusive.
He said it was based on the security situation, having held the returning officer hostage and mandating him to announce the result, that pushed him to announce the result eventually.
According to Agbaje, the Police Commissioner advised that the returning officer should announce the result at Ilaje and come back to Akure to write his report.
“My Lord, I am a retired director of DSS and I understand the implication of security situation, consequently, I phoned back to my officers that the result should be declared. The result was announced” Agbaje said.
Corroborating Agbaje’s witness, the returning officer for Ilaje two, Dr. Joseph Adewuyi who was earlier issued bench warrant said he wrote a letter to the REC dated 13th of April, 2015 that he announced the result under duress.
The said letter was later tendered as evidence before the Tribunal by the APC and Gbenga Edema led-counsel, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN.
The bench warrant issued against Adewuyi was discharged by the chairman of the Tribunal, Justice G. O Imadegeelo as the witness came to the court voluntarily.
In his witness, the Petitioner, Mr. Gbenga Edema prayed the Tribunal to grant his prayers in his petition and order for a fresh, credible and transparent election in Ilaje constituency 2.
Having called all his witnesses, lead counsel to the petitioner, Mr. Akeredolu annouced his decision to close the case.
The Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Mr. Malachi Cooker are expected to open their defense.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Honorable Kemi Adesanya have opened their defence against the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Mr. Festus Aregesola.
Counsel to the APC and Aregbesola, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu drilled witnesses of the PDP during cross examinations.
Most of the witnesses who claimed not to read and write later read out figures on an exhibit given to them.
One of the witnesses who told the Tribunal that he is tailor by profession, later claimed he could not read nor write figures.
The witnesses incoherence was exhibited in their responses during cross examinations.
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