The hearing of the petition challenging the victory of the incumbent governor of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Emmanuel Udom, by the APC gubernatorial candidate, Obong Nsima Ekere, took a dramatic turn on Wednesday, 24th July, as one of the Adhoc staff employed by the Independent National Electoral Commission in the 9th March 2019 elections was called to the stands.

The election petition tribunal sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital on Wednesday, began receiving witnesses and testimonies, as part of its ongoing efforts to interrogate the events that led to the announcement of the incumbent governor as the winner in the race to the Hilltop Mansion location of the Governorment House, Uyo, following a petition brought before it by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Obong Nsima Ekere.

He was called to the stands by the Lead Counsel to the petitioner, J. S. Okutepa (SAN) and in his testimony, the INEC Ad-hoc Staff (names witheld), who was posted to a polling unit in Obot Akara LGA as Assistant Presiding Officer (APO2), described that on the day, electoral activities had commenced normally, until suddenly, a gang of hoodlums brandishing all kinds of dangerous weapons arrived in a 14-seater bus, and promptly chased away innocent citizens who had queued up to carry out their civil duties by exercising rights to vote.

Upon arrival, he continued, the officials were led into a large room where they met a number of other Adhoc INEC officials, including his immediate boss (who was captured in the video) and others who had likely been abducted from other polling units, and made to forcefully thumbprint on provided ballot papers.

After cross-examination by counsels to the defendants - Dr. Onyeachi Ikpeazu OON (SAN) lead counsel to the 1st respondent, and Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), counsel to the second respondent, the tribunal led by justice A. M.

The hearing was subsequently adjourned till Monday, 29th July 2019, on which day the 1st defendant is expected to open their case.