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Taraba State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Sitting At Court of Appeal, Abuja


As PDP begin their defense at the ongoing hearing in the petition challenging the April 11 and 25 Governorship Election in Taraba State. All PDP witnesses under cross examinations surprisingly confirmed to the tribunal that indeed there is over voting in their various polling units they served as PDP agents, but want tribunal to use their figures as against INEC's figures that conducted the election. The first defense witness that's Dw1of the 1st respondent was brought by name Mr Ligwa Shedreck Ishiaku who claimed to be a student from Sabon gida Tukura of Didong ward in Kurmi LGA. After he gave his testimony during the tactical cross examinations of Dw1 for the first respondent Darius Ishiaku, by the APC lead counsel A.J.Awonikoko SAN it was revealed the witness surprisingly confirmed to the tribunal that he is not the one that made his statement of oath. He was asked by Awonikoko that in his statement in paragraph 12 he referred to the petitioners witness MG who said the total number of accredited voters in his PU is 245 which is not correct and was asked again if he read the Pw MG's statement before written his own statement, the Dw1replied that he doesn't  know any MG not to talked of his statement.
Next is Dw2 of the first respondent by name Mr Hassan Dauda who claimed to be a business man from Tunare of Bantaje ward in Wukari LGA. Also Dw2 like Dw1 during cross examinations by APC lead counsel Awonikoko SAN has referred the Dw2 to his own statement of oath in paragraph 12 which he said the total number of accredited voters in his pu is 600 as announced by INEC and total votes cast 598 which APC scored 0 while PDP scored 585, he was again shown a comprehensive accreditation report of Inec in respect of his PU presented by INEC to the tribunal as evidence and DW2 quoted 218 as the total number of accredited voters in his pu, he was again asked then which figures did he want tribunal to use is it his own figures or that of INEC he replied his own the court went laughter.
Next is Dw3 of the first respondent by name Mr. Solomon Magai Aji who claimed to be a farmer and he's from Kahki in Wukari LGA. Also like Dw2, Dw3 during cross examinations by Awonikoko SAN lead counsel to APC has asked the witness that is he aware that petitioners were saying that there is over voting in his PU, he answered no he even insisted that the total number of accredited voters in his PU 567 which APC scored 0 while 566. Then the APC counsel asked the court to show the witness INEC report on total accredited voters in respect of his PU he quoted 29 as successful accreditation and 378 as unsuccessful ones while the total is 407.
He was asked again if he still insist the votes PDP got in his PU 566 is higher than the total number of accredited voters as announced by INEC the witness replied that he is a farmer and he doesn't know simple arithmetic, he was asked again as a farmer is it proper for a 556 tubers of yam to be lesser than 407 tubers of yam, he kept quite. Upon insistence by Mr. Awonikoko SAN that he should answer his question the witness said they don't farm yams in Wukari LGA. His evasive answer and claim of ignorance such elementary matter invoked laughter in court.
Next is defense witness 4 that's Dw4 of the 1st respondent he's Mr Musa Agyo who said he's from Isayi village of Akwana ward in Wukari LGA. And Dw5 of the 1st respondent by name Mr Ezekiel Ifraimu who hails from Pwagzu also in Wukari LGA. All the two witnesses during cross examinations by APC lead counsel Awonikoko SAN have agreed that there was over voting in their respective polling unit as according to INEC comprehensive report on successful and unsuccessful accreditation, but they all insist that court should regard their respective figures as against INEC figures that conducted the election the court again went laughter including their rented supporters.
DW6 who commenced his testimony in what some audience in the court hall described as over Confidence, but rather impressed his fans he end up contradicting himself during cross examinations by APC lead counsel Awonikoko SAN, the questions thrown to the last witness of today before the defense counsels begged for an adjournment.


Lawan Akawu

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