The decision to close the defence came unexpectedly, a day after the APC, which is the third respondent in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, had called four witnesses to testify.
The three-member panel led by Justice Wilfred Kpochi had on Wednesday adjourned proceedings to Thursday for the APC to tender additional documents, which it claimed were necessary for its remaining witnesses.