Rivers gov. Polls: 4 more witnesses confirm Wike won April election

Four more witnesses for Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers, on Thursday told the State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja that the April 11 governorship election was peaceful

The witnesses, who were from different local government areas of the state, also declared that there were no cases of multiple thumb printing and ballot snatching in their respective polling units.

The witnesses added that they were duly accredited by their polling unit officials and also waited for their votes to be counted before they left the venue.

The witnesses included Mr Obubeleye Briggs, a lawyer, who voted at polling unit 1 in Ward 13 of Akukutoru Local Government Area, and Rev. Canon Nwankwo, who voted at polling Unit 7, Ward 12 in Ikwere Local Government.

Others are Mrs Nkpang Igonikon, a public health worker, who voted at polling Unit 6, Ward 5 of Akukutoru Local Government Area, and Peter Michael, voted at unit 12 Ward 9 of Andoni Local Government.

Briggs said that the election process was hitch-free and that after the whole process, the winner was later declared in his polling unit.

Also, Rev. Canon Nwankwo, from the Anglican Church, said that the entire voting process in his unit was transparent and credible.

Mrs Nkpang Igonikon, a health worker, said that she voted in her polling unit without any form of violence.

Mr Peter Michael, a community leader, told the tribunal that the election went well in his polling unit and that the tribunal should disregard “the lies of the APC witnesses”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during the cross-examination by the APC Counsel, Mr Akinlolu Olujimi (SAN), all the witnesses told the tribunal that they did both manual and card reader accreditation.

NAN also reports that Wike has so far presented 11 witnesses from seven local government areas to prove that the election was free and fair.