The governorship candidate of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, on Friday, called witnesses in the petition he filed to challenge the victory of Governor Dapo Abiodun of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The call followed the admission of all undisputed exhibits as tendered from the bar by the petitioners on Thursday, July 6.

As the court resumed sitting on Friday, the petitioners‘ counsel, Gordy Uche (SAN), told the tribunal that “the petitioners intend to start their trial by calling their witnesses.”

Uche had filed a schedule of witnesses that the petitioners intended to call, in compliance with the pre-hearing report and they intend to call 11 witnesses for the day.

With no objections from the respondents, the Hamidu Kunaza-led tribunal permitted the petitioners to call their witnesses.

The witnesses were cross-examined by Remi Olatubora, counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Taiwo Osipitan, representing Dapo Abiodun and Tayo Oyetibo of the APC.

One of the witnesses, Oduwole Ganiu Adekunle from Sagamu Local Government area of the state alleged that, thugs hired by APC disrupted voting in his polling unit.

Oduwole said, the thugs armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons stormed his polling unit and hijacked ballot boxes and other voting materials.

He added that, the thugs also chased INEC officials and voters away thereby preventing other people from voting.

"My Lord, around 1.47 pm on the election day, APC thugs carrying guns disrupted voting in my polling units.

“They (thugs) wore masks and threatened us. They were shouting ‘if cannot vote for APC and Dapo Abiodun, leave the polling centre’.

“They started beating and harassing everyone. They took the ballot boxes and papers. Some of them were even wearing APC hand-bands”, Oduwole said.

The court resumes on Monday for the cross-examination of more witnesses.