News - Akeredolu testifies at election petition tribunal, alleges fraud

[TGD]

 A STAR witness and the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the Ondo State governorship election which held last year, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Tuesday was in the witness box in his quest to convince the election petition tribunal that the poll was marred with massive irregularities.

Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who was a member of the legal team that retrieved the mandate of his main opponent in the last exercise, incumbent governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, at the litigation over the April 14, 2007 election, is also a petitioner in the instant case as the candidate of the ACN in the election.

Akeredolu who appeared as one of the 41 witnesses presented by him (petitioner) and that of his party pointed out exhibit P52A, P1H12, P16G12 which included that of voters register and insisted that the election was marred which fraud.

Making reference in respect of Isowopo, Akoko 01, Ward 08, Unit 12, Akeredolu said that the irregularities discovered were perpetrated in all units in the state.

The frontline lawyer said that his case and that of his party was very clear but the tribunal must and could only understand the case by going through the exhibit and relate it with the findings of the experts, noting that both must be connected.

The former Nigeria Bar Association president said that there were cases of double registration where voters appeared twice with different VIN number.

He added that, for example, Abdulai Idris appeared two times with different VIN numbers.

Akeredolu said that there were people that were marked to have voted who were invalid registrants whose thumbprints were not captured.

The frontline lawyer who was led in evidence by his counsel, Oluwole Aina said that his claims before the tribunal was as contained in his petition.

Akeredolu who was later cross examined by the first, second and third respondents led by Mr. Wole Olanipekun was asked whether his agents were in all polling units in the state for the election.

The former NBA boss said that his agents were chased away from most of the polling units, saying the ACN had few agents in polling units.

He was also cross-examined on the registration of his voter card and asked if he had registered in Ondo State.

Akeredolu answered he did not register in Ondo State in 2011 but had transferred his voter's card to Ondo State legally, under Section 13 of the Electoral Act, following the procedure.

He further explained that he transferred his voter's card from Jericho in Ibadan where he was initially resident.

When asked on which party won his unit, Akeredolu insisted that he won his unit, saying that he was so sure that ACN won the three local governments as recorded by INEC.

He added that he accepted the result from Owo, Akoko Southwest and Odigbo because he felt he should accept it and not because there were no irregularities in those local governments.

Having said he transferred his voter's card, Wole Olanipekun asked if his registration was also part of the injections as analyses by the expert.

Akeredolu said that the expert was very specific in the course of his presentation, adding that there were categories of voters injected and those that might have come under review of voters' register or transfer.

The frontline lawyer said that he fell under the category of those whose voter's card was transferred.

Responding to cross-examination by counsel to one of the respondents, Akeredolu said that the forensic expert analyses on multiple thumbprints did not materialise due to INEC's inabilities.

He alleged that INEC intentionally provided a ballot paper, which was in crumb after two weeks, saying it was difficult if not impossible for any forensic expert to work on.

Akeredolu lamented that the highest injection of the voter's register was in Owo, noting that it was a deliberate attempt to dilute his vote.



The Guardian