The tribunal resumed sitting after a week break for continuation of
hearing of the petitioners witnesses.
The petitioners called ten witnesses in proof of their petition. Two of
the witnesses are Pantisawa in Yorro Local Government, three are from
Karim-Lamido Local Government, two from Jalingo town, in Jalingo Local
Government one each from Kurmi, Ussa and Zing Local Government Area of Taraba
State.
The ten witnesses called are:
- -Shuiabu Tippi
- -Sani Saleh Bello
- -Jolly Samuel
- -Nasiru Musa
- -Buhari Saleh
- -Adamu Yau
- -Saleh Bala
- -Ibrahim Samuel
- -Ira Mbande Tukura
- -Sagiru Gidado
Shuiabu Tippi and Sani Bello Saleh are from Pantisawa in Yorro Local
Government Area, Jolly Samuel, Nasiru Musa and Buhari Saleh are from Jalingo
Local Government while Ibrahim Samuel, Ira Mbande Tukura and Sagiru Gidado are
from Kurmi, Ussa and Zing Local Government Area respectively.
The witness from Pantisawa in Yorro Local Government testified that they
were the polling unit Agents in the Governorship election in Yorro Local
Government. That after the accreditation, the number that the presiding Officer
announced to them was different from the number entered in the result sheet and
to them there was an over voting in their respective poling units.
Under cross examination, the witnesses admitted that they don’t know the
total number of the people that voted, these witnesses further said they did
not handle the card reader to accredit the voters. The witnesses also said that
they don’t know the number of the people on queue when voting commenced and
that they did not study the result sheet issued to them at the polling unit.
Jolly Samuel who testified as Polling Agent at Karim ‘A’ Ward that there
was over-voting in the polling unit where He served as an Agent.
Under cross examination, he was shown the result of the Polling unit
which was signed by one Lucky Dauda as the polling agent of A.P.C. He admitted
that He was not the one who signed the result of the unit and that He is not
Lucky Dauda who signed the result.
The witness further admitted that the result signed by Lucky Dauda was
the one given to Him at the Polling unit which he claimed to be the Agent.
Nasiru Musa who claimed that He is from Bikwin Ward and was a poling
unit agent during the Governorship election testified that there was over
voting in his polling unit.
Under cross examination, it was revealed that one Heziel Abdullahi was
the agent representing APC in the polling unit was signed by Him (Heziel
Abdullahi) and not Nasiru Musa as claimed.
Saleh Bala from Jalingo who also testified for the petitioners also
claimed to be a polling agent in Jalingo Local Government during the
Governorship election that there was over-voting in his polling unit during the
said election.
Under cross-examination also, it was discovered that Mr. Yakubu Sunday
was the real Polling Agent who signed the result on behalf of APC and not Saleh
Bala.
The witness admitted that though the result is signed but he is not the
one who signed same and that the card reader report and the result sheet which
the party tendered in evidence should not be relied upon.
The witness further admitted that he was not the one that did the
accreditation and that He did not agree with the figures in the card reader
report.
Adamu Yau who testified for the petitioner claimed to be from Jalingo
but his deposition on oath shows that he is from Wukari Local Governemnt and
not Jalingo. Adamu Yau claimed to be the ward agent of Majidadi ward and
through him the result sheet was tendered and admitted as Exhibit A12.
Under cross-examination, the witness said he is not from Wukari and has
collation centre is not in Wukari bu Jalingo and that he has forgotten the name
of the agents that submitted the result sheet to him.
Sagiru Gidado who claimed to be the ward agent of Bubong ward in Zing
Local Government testified that there was over-voting in 4 polling unit of
Bubong ward.
Under cross-examination, he admitted that he did not sign the result
sheet of his ward and that what is contained in his statement on oath is what
the polling unit agents told him.
Ibrahim Samuila who testified as the ward agent of Didan ward in Kurmi
Local Government also claimed that there was over voting in the ward.
Under-cross examination it was discovered that Ibrahim Ishaku was the
ward agent and not him as Ibrahim Ishaku is the person that signed the result
sheet of the ward and not Ibrahim Samuila.
To worsen his case, this witness doesn’t know the number of polling unit
in Didan ward. Instead of 12 polling units the witness said we have 11 Polling
units in the ward.
Ira Mbande Tukura who testified as the ward agent of Kwanbai in Ussa
Local Government claimed there was over-voting in some polling units as his
polling agents reported same to him.
Under cross-examination also it was revealed that Ira Mbande Tukura was
not the ward agent of Kwanbai as one Mr. Abete Kurutsi signed the result sheets
of the ward as the ward agent and not Ira Mbande Tukura.
The witness also said there are eleven polling units and one voting
point in the ward but could not identify the voting point. The witness finally
said He do not agree with the card reader report.
Buhari Saleh also testified as the ward agent of APC in Bachama ward of
Karim-Lamido. Through him the ward result was admitted in evidence and marked
as Exhibit A16.
Under cross-examination, this witness said he did not agree with the
card reader report tendered by counsel to APC as card reader did not fail in
his ward as is contained in the report.
This witness also did not sign the result sheet of the ward. He also
admitted that voter register can be used for accreditation and that he was
present when the result of his ward was entered in the result sheet.
The tribunal adjourned the matter to 1st September, 2015 for continuation
of hearing by the petitioners counsel.
The court of Appeal on the other hand also sat today the 31st day of
August, 2015 to determine the appeal filed by Kanu Agabi SAN representing His
Excellency the Executive Governor of Taraba State Darius Dickson Ishaku and
Chief Solo Akuma (SAN) representing People’s Democratic Party in the
Governorship Election petition tribunal.
Kanu Agabi (SAN) and Chief Solo Akuma (SAN) had earlier filed an appeal
challenging the jurisdiction and competence of the tribunal to hear and
determine the petition of the petitioners. The appeal is reserved for judgment
and should the judgment favour the appellant all acts done in respect of the
petition will be declared a nullity and the Tribunal would determine the
preliminary objection before taking any further step on the petition.
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