11th January, 2019
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) witnesses on Thursday accused INEC presiding officers of manipulating results of the Sept. 22 and 27, 2018 Osun Governorship Polls.
The witnesses told the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting at the FCT High Court Abuja that the INEC officials failed to record the number of accredited voters on the results sheets on polling days.
The petition was filed by the PDP and its candidate in the election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, against the victory of Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The petitioners alleged that the election was marred with massive rigging, vote buying and other forms of malpractices and was not conducted in compliance with the Electoral Law.
Joined as respondents in the petition were INEC, Gov. Oyetola and APC.
During cross examination, PDP agent for Unit 9, Ward 4 of Olorunda Local Government Area, Phillip Adetunji, said that vital information, such as the number of accredited voters on the certified copy of result sheet tendered in evidence were not on the pink copy issued to him at the polling unit.
“I can see 245 (number of accredited voters) on the white copy but this is not on the pink copy I signed on the day of election.
” I have no complaint about scores of parties. My complaint is that the space for accredited voters was not filled,” said the PDP witness.
Another witness, Adepoju Akanmu, the PDP agent for Unit 2, Ward 11 of Osogbo LGA, told the tribunal that he signed the white copy of the result sheet, saying that he did not have any complaints about the scores of parties.
“This one (certified copy) is fake. There is no recording of accredited voters on the pink copy,” he stated.
Ganiyu Sadia Motunrayo, PDP agent for Unit 3, Ward 18 of Osogbo LGA, also complained about the non-recording of the accredited voters on the result sheet.
“INEC (officials) did not write the number of accredited voters. I complained about it but they did not write it till the end of election that day,” she said.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, has adjourned for continuation of hearing of the petitioners’ case until Monday, Jan. 14. (NAN)