Osun Election: What Oyetola’s first witness told Tribunal
A witness, Mr Isiaka Olanrewaju, on Monday told the Osun State Election Petitions Tribunal that there were irregularities in the election results which declared Sen. Ademola Adeleke, as the Governor-elect.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on July 16 declared Adeleke as the winner, having polled 403, 271 votes against 375,027 polled by Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola and APC had on Aug. 5 submitted a petition before the tribunal in Osogbo.
Oyetola and APC are challenging the election results from 749 polling units across 10 local government areas of the state for various alleged electoral malpractice, especially over-voting.
At the resumed hearing on Monday, there was a mild drama as one of the witnesses, Isiaka Olanrewaju called by Governor Gboyega Oyetola, erroneously presented himself as an analyst for the 2nd respondent, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
Isiaka Olanrewaju, who was led in evidence by lead counsel to the petitioner, Akin Olujinmi (SAN), stirred confusion when he introduced himself as a retired civil servant who coordinated analysis of July 16 governorship election results for the Governor-Elect, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke instead of the defeated Mr Gboyega Oyetola.
The PDP counsel, Paul Ananaba (SAN), drew the attention of the Tribunal to the inconsistencies in Olanrewaju’s statements, wondering how the witness who had submitted to be a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and as a matter of fact, an SSA to the outgoing governor, in a sworn affidavit filed by the petitioner could at the same time lead the team that analyzed the July 16 governorship election for Senator Adeleke. When Olanrewaju was asked to read out his own statement made on oath at the tribunal, he paused at the point he referred to himself as an analyst for the respondents instead of the petitioner.
Olanrewaju, the first witness for Oyetola told the tribunal that he came to the conclusion of the irregularities after analysing the result forms for the election and comparing them with the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS).
Led in evidence by the petitioners’ counsel, Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), the witness said he relied on forms EC8As, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E and BVAS report released by INEC to arrive at his findings.
While being cross-examined by INEC Counsel, Prof. Paul Ananaba, the witness said he analysed the results of the election in 749 units across 10 local governments.
While Ananaba put it to Olanrewaju that he analysed the results of 762 units, the witness responded that the figure was not his opinion.
The witness was also cross-examined by Counsel to Adeleke, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), and Counsel for the PDP, Alex Izinyon (SAN).
Olarenwaju told the tribunal that though, he did not operate the BVAS machine on election day, he received the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the BVAS report on July 27 after the election.
The witness further testified that he was an expert, who had operated several electronic devices, including BVAS before and could determine whenever the machine was tampered with.
On whether his analysis was done only where the PDP won, the witness said, “I did my analysis across 749 polling units in 10 local governments, regardless of which party won.”
Earlier, the tribunal granted an application by Oyetola’s Counsel to amend the list of witnesses filed before the panel by including the acronym used to represent their names.
Olujinmi had also informed the tribunal that the INEC Counsel had filed an application to stop the Subpoena issued by the tribunal on INEC to bring Adeleke’s certificate and other documents he used in the 2018 Governorship Election.
He said that the evidence of his next witness would be based on the documents being requested for.
Olujinmi said he would wait in calling the second witness until the tribunal decides on the application of INEC Counsel.
The Chairman of the panel, Terse Kume, adjourned further hearing until tomorrow.
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