APC closes case at Benue election tribunal with 59 witnesses

The All Progressives Congress and its gubernatorial candidate, Emmanuel Jime, have closed their case at the Benue State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal after calling 59 witnesses.
Jime is challenging the return of Samuel Ortom of the Peoples Democratic Party as Governor by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The PDP was also joined in the suit.
The petitioner also tendered over 1,100 electoral documents, including forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D,  EC8E, voters registers and card reader reports, manual and guidelines for electoral officials, 2019 in 384 Polling Units across 11 local government areas in contention.
Jime is challenging the results declared in Buruku, Gboko, Guma, Gwer East, Gwer West, Konshisha, Kwande, Logo, Ukum, Ushongo and Vandeikya.
Jime, while testifying in his own defence as PW17, told the tribunal to declare him winner of the election on grounds that he polled 2,224 votes more than Ortom.
The petitioners’ other grounds were that Ortom was not duly elected by majority of lawful votes and that his election was invalid by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.
The Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Henry Olusiyi, adjourned further hearing until August 8 for INEC to open its defence.