From Daniel Abel, Lafia
Two witnesses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) told the Nasarawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday that results in Toto Local Government Area were manipulated to favour Gov. Abdullahi Sule.
At the resumed hearing of the petition in Lafia, the PDP witnesses tendered their Permanent Voter Cards, agent cards and party membership cards as exhibits.
The PDP candidate at the March 18 governorship election, Mr David Ombugadu, and his party are challenging the victory of Gov. Sule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the tribunal.
During a cross-examination by counsel representing all parties to the petition both witnesses identified some exhibits which had been tendered before the tribunal earlier and claimed they were not the true reflection of the results from their polling units in Toto Local Government Area.
Earlier, counsel to Gov. Abdullahi Sule, the APC and INEC, Wole Olanikpekun (SAN), Hassan Liman (SAN) and Ishaku Dikko (SAN) respectively, objected to the presentation of the two witnesses.
They argued that the petitioners did not serve them with the schedule of presentation of the witnesses as required by the Electoral Act.
They argued further that the Electoral Act demanded that respondents be served with schedule of presentation of witnesses in advance so as not to take any party by surprise.
Responding to the arguments, Mr Samuel Jubril-Okutepa (SAN) petitioners’ counsel argued that the pre-hearing report did not make the provision of schedule of witnesses mandatory.
Having listened to all parties, the tribunal overruled the respondents on the ground that the needed progress in the proceedings should not be sacrificed on the ground of technicalities.
Chairman of the three-man tribunal, Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, consequently adjourned further hearing to Wednesday.