Daudu, the chief witness for the APC candidate, was confronted with the evidence of double registration in his own unit to draw the attention of the tribunal to the fact that the witness was unreliable and the result of the unit was not a product of a duly conducted election.
By Julius Alabi, Akure
More evidence has emerged before Justice Obadugu-led Election Petitions Tribunal sitting in Akure in the just concluded bye-election for Akure South and Akure North Federal Constituency.
Temidayo Daudu, the Witness-in-Chief for the first respondent, Mayokun Lawson Alade, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was himself accused of double registration for the election.
The witness, Daudu was being cross-examined of his statement on oath before the tribunal by Barrister Olumuyiwa Adu‘s counsel, Kehinde Aladetutire.
Adu is the petitioner and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the bye-election.
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Daudu was confronted with the evidence of double registration in his Unit, Ward 9 Unit 009 in Akure North to draw the attention of the tribunal to the fact that the witness was unreliable and the result of the unit was not a product of a duly conducted election.
Others appearing for the petitioner are Olumide Ogidan, A. Ilari, and J. Egwemi.
The counsel for the first respondent Mayokun Lawson Alade is Abiola Olawole Olaniyi and Alabi Bankole is for All Progressives Congress (APC), second respondent while Femi Kuku representing Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the third respondent at today’s sitting.
Aladetutire also showed to the tribunal the disparities in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) result sheets, voters register and ballot papers in Ward 9 Unit 009 in Akure North which showed clearly that election in the Unit was flawed while the results were merely concocted.
The witness, Daudu was confronted with the evidence that he (Daudu) registered twice in the Unit with different addresses during voters registration.
Aladetutire however applied for Exhibit P10 (Voter Register) for Ward 9 Unit 009 which was showed to Daudu that he has double registration in the voters register that was used for the election that is, Daudu Temidayo Ojo and Daudu Itemidayo Ojo with his pictures appearing in the two registrations with different addresses and different registration numbers.
Daudu who had earlier said that voters accreditation by the INEC officials with the Accreditation Machine was 156 but was also confronted with Exhibit P12, (Accreditation Machine Sheet) that showed that only 37 voters were accredited.
However, when Daudu was asked to confirm his Statement on Oath whether he was the one that wrote it or not, he said he was the one but he was further asked, how possible for him as APC Party Agent to be at Ward 9 Unit 009 and the same time be at Ward 9 Unit 006 that far away from his Polling Unit.
As at this time, with the question, it was dawn on him that the bubble has burst while his countenance showed that he was no longer comfortable in the witness box.
As all the Respondent counsels closed the calling of their witnesses with just one witness before the Tribunal, Justice Obadugu-led Tribunal therefore adjourned further hearing to date that would be communicated to the counsels to allow them filed and respond to their written addresses.