₦airaland Forum

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, had a bad outing yesterday at the sitting of the tribunal hearing the petition they filed against the outcome of the election.

Most of the nine witnesses they called could not communicate effectively in English language, could not read the statements they claimed they wrote and could not answer questions logically.



Some of the witnesses also claimed to have multiple signatures, samples of which the tribunal later admitted in evidence.

The tribunal chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, had to intervene intermittently, to explain questions to the witnesses in pidgin English before they could respond.

The witnesses, who claimed to have acted as PDP agents during the election, were led in evidence by petitioners’ lawyer, Nathaniel Oke (SAN).

They were cross-examined by respondents’ lawyers, including Lasco Pwahomdi, for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); Aboidun Owonikoko (SAN), for Adegboyega Oyetola and Lasun Sanusi (SAN), for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ariyo Oladiti, who testified as the petitioners’ fourth witness – the first yesterday – said he was PDP’s agent at Polling Unit 10, Ward 7, Atakunmosa West Local Government Area.

During cross-examination by Pwahomdi, he was asked to explain irregularities in his signatures in his written deposition and the result sheet.

Oladiti said he had multiple signatures, admitting that the signatures in both documents were not similar.

The witness was later asked to sign a specimen of his different signatures on plane sheets, which the tribunal admitted in evidence.

The second witness, Ado Garba (PW5), also claimed to have multiple signatures, samples of which were admitted by the tribunal.



While being led in evidence by Oke, another witness Mumuni Salaudeen said he acted as PDP’s agent in Unit 11, Ward 11 in Osogbo Local Government Area.

He claimed to have signed a written deposition on October 16 at the tribunal’s registry in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

But when Oke asked him if he wanted the written deposition to be admitted as his evidence before the tribunal, the witness said no.

Oke repeated the question about two more times, but the witness insisted on his earlier response.

Realising that the witness did not understand the question or grasp its import, the tribunal chairman, following a request by Oke, admitted the written deposition.

When asked to read part of his written deposition, the witness took the document and kept staring at it.

When Justice Sirajo asked him what the problem was, Salaudeen said he could not read and write in English.

Wakili Animashahun, who was the last witness for the day (PW12), exhibited similar attributes.

He claimed to have multiple signatures and could not answer questions logically.

When asked if the results in his polling unit were announced by the Presiding Officer before it was recorded in the results sheet, the witness said no.

His response contradicted his claim in his written deposition, which he earlier admitted to have signed, and which the tribunal admitted.

When Oke attempted to correct his witness’ error, tribunal chairman overruled him, saying: “It was a witness’ inalienable right to contradict himself.”

Further hearing resumes today.

rastaLivity:
act of futility, call from above will still order for her release. if buhari gov't could released arrested bokoharam terrorists then letting go their wives is a certainty

Xisnin:
Stop crying, they disgraced you not the nation.
Unless, Benue, Plateau and Borno people are not part of the nation.
I am sure the millions of unemployed folks don't share your sentiment.
If this act destroy Atiku'c chances why are you complaining instead of celebrating?

manutdrichie:
Smh! This is how madness starts
How do you conclude i'm igbo

ObservantFellow:
FEPSAN that were practically begging for a bill of theirs to be passed in the news last month decided to support Buhari's campaign with £570m thus month.
Let's pretend they are not related

gaddafe:
Out of curiosity I have to ask: Does the American president order his presidential guard to shoot unarmed civilians?

Kenekingisback:
He should expect more...he deserves it for the poor handling of the country's affairs.

Kenekingisback:
He should expect more...he deserves it for the poor handling of the country's affairs.

Kenekingisback:
No President has ever been booed since 1960 except Buhari

Useless

selectedhero:
My prayer is that God will continue to make you and your likes to remain this stupid till after the elections in February. So you can continue to put in more effort at popularising our PDP candidate's chances at the detriment of your APC and Buhari. My people say when God wants your success, he causes your enemies to be your torch bearer .

DrGud:
It's so shameful that only one Man controls the whole of south _west . He single handedly decides who rules any state in all of the south west.

Denikayan:
You have to be cautious of power usage with prepaid meter

But estimated billing, I dont care, Everything keeps running till they get damaged.

Maybe IKEDC tuned the meter, I had to damage the meter myself so they were forced to put me on estimated billing pending replacement which I know it will take a decade

Denikayan:
Bro


Dont pray for prepaid meter

I know what am talking about from experience

If you use heavy household equipment's, You will understand

Hedonini:
Is that not the same thing we're all saying? See how stupid you sound trying to justify Buhari and his useless government!

Imagine implying that the ministries of a sitting government should work with the opposition party! Can there be two governments at the same time? Can two parties govern at the same time? If you're not mad explain what you mean by that nonsense!

In spite of all that, so Buhari needed SIX MONTHS to appoint ministers? ? ?

Make Ogun no punish you.

IamJames:
This simply means Buhari asked NBS to tell Nigerians lie. Mr. Integrity I hail thee.

naijapips04:
You are a joker.