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Nasarawa Gov’ship Election Tribunal: More irregularities recorded against Sule as critical documents missing

Nasarawa Gov’ship Election Tribunal: More irregularities recorded against Sule as critical documents missing

By Faith Awa Maji

The Nasarawa State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Lafia has today revealed substantial evidence as the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) lead counsel, Ombugadu J. S. Okutepa SAN, presented critical testimony.

The tribunal embarked on a deep dive into the core of the case by summoning crucial witnesses who illuminated purported irregularities during the 2023 General Elections.

All eyes were on the first subpoenaed witness, the Head of the Department of INEC ICT in Nasarawa State, as he was queried about document submissions. 

Among the requested documents were BVAS screenshots and printouts from polling units under scrutiny.

Regrettably, only two out of the expected five copies were produced and tendered with the witness asserting that the remaining three copies were unexplainable absent.

Barr Ayiwulu Baba Ayiwulu, the PDP State Collation Agent, a star witness and last as the Petitioners closed their case as he brought to light a series of documents generated from INEC BVAS IREV that were not meticulously collated as per the INEC Guidelines for the 2023 General Elections.

The witness highlighted disparities in the collation of Form EC8As, EC8Bs, and related documents for Governorship and State Assembly results in numerous constituencies. 

The discrepancies were in areas such as Azara, Kanje/Aburi, Gaiyam, Ciroma, Ashige, Aliwaza Mada, Ningo/Boha, Shege, Gadabuke, Lafia North, and Lafia Central State Assembly Constituencies.

Ayiwulu underscored that these errors extended to incorrectly tabulated scores and unlawfully nullified results. 

He clarified that such irregularities were rampant throughout the previous Governorship elections held in Nasarawa State. 

The tribunal was urged to rely on the original and certified copies of Form EC8As to ensure an accurate compilation of the results.

While cross-examined, representatives of the first, second, and third respondents (INEC, APC, and Abdullahi Audu Sule) probing Ayiwulu’s claims as Ayiwulu stood firm, affirming that the elections were marred by irregularities and human errors, stressing the necessity for precise result compilation based on the authentic forms.

The PDP’s lead counsel, J S Okutepa, SAN, declared the conclusion of their case as the defense of the first, second, and third respondents will open theirs tomorrow, Friday, August 19, 2023 as they all expressed readiness for their defense

In response, Isiaka Dikko (SAN), representing the first respondent, INEC, expressed readiness for the defense. 

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