The Ekiti State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Abuja, yesterday, adjourned further hearing of the petition challenging the governorship election victory of Mr Ayodele Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to December 17.

The tribunal which is headed by Justice Siraj Mohammed adjourned for the parties to adopt their written addresses on the next date.

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in its petition, challenged the results of the June 21 governorship election won by Fayose.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, declared Fayose as the winner of the election ahead of the former governor of the state,  Dr. Kayode Fayemi who was sponsored by the APC.

Whereas Fayose garnered  203,090 votes, his rival Fayemi polled 120,433 votes.

APC accuses FG, PDP of manipulation

Nevertheless, the APC, alleged that the election was manipulated by the Federal Government in favour of the PDP.

It therefore prayed the tribunal to “unravel the hidden facts surrounding the election,” saying the poll was more of “a mechanical exercise than the conventional casting of votes.”

The party also challenged the qualification of Fayose for the election.

It stated that Fayose had a criminal case pending against him at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Meantime, the Nigerian Police Force yesterday told the tribunal that it caught one Peter Alabi of Odo Ayedun- Ekiti who was said to be an agent of the APC during the election, engaging in ballot snatching.

Police through its lawyer, Chief Olusola Oke, further tendered a report on the case against Alabi as an exhibit before the tribunal.

While opening its defence, the police via a report signed by the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Taiwo Frederick Lakanu, stated that though election in some areas in Ekiti was delayed, it argued that the delay did not affect the commencement of the election process.

Police told the tribunal that; “Result of unit six (6) Odogo under ward 9 in Ikole Local Government Area was cancelled due to the snatching of the ballot box by one Peter Alabi of Odo Ayedun-Ekiti, an APC agent who pretended to cast his vote and ran into the bush with the ballot box. When pursued by the security agents, he tore the ballot papers therein and escaped.

“INEC subsequently cancelled the unit result”, it added.

A total of 18 witnesses have so far testified before the tribunal.