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From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
There was a mild drama at the beginning of hearing of the petition filed by Aida of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), challenging the victory of Philip Agbese of All Progressives Congress, (APC) as the House of Representatives member for Ado, Ogbadibo, Okpokwu Federal Constituency of Benue State.
Aida is alleging that the election that produced Philip Agbese as the winner is invalid on the grounds of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.
When the PDP candidate opened her case, the petitioners witness who identified himself as Comrade Ekweme John Owen contradicted his statement on oath under cross examination.
In paragraph two of his witness statement before the tribunal, Mr Ekweme averred that he and other supporters of the PDP candidate in his village in Ogege ward of Ado Local Government Area of Benue State didn’t go out to vote because they were told that Aida Nath was not the candidate of the PDP in the February 25th, 2023, election.
Answering questions under cross examination from counsel to Philip Agbese, Mr Adetunji Osho, the witness said he got to know of the information after he checked the portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
When asked by Mr Osho to tell the tribunal the name of the INEC portal, the witness was speechless for a while, and finally told the court that now that he has lost his phone, he can’t recall the name of the INEC website.
When asked by counsel to the APC, Mr Fidelis Mnyim, if he still stands by his witness statement on oath wherein he said he is a supporter of Aida and it was circulated in his village that Aida was not the candidate of the PDP, so he and other supporters didn’t go out to vote, the visibly confused witness answered in the affirmative.
There was laughter in court.
Earlier, the petitioners first witness, Comrade Adikwu Nicodemus told the tribunal that he was not stopped from going to the polling unit but he decided not to go to his polling unit because he got to know that Aida was not the PDP candidate.
After leading the two witnesses,
counsel to Aida, Kenneth Ikonne asked the court for an adjournment of two days and promised to finish his case on the next adjourned date.
The Chairman of the panel, Justice Amina Aliyu accordingly adjourned the matter to Thursday, July 13,2023, for continuation of hearing.
The petitioners immediately left the court room.
It will be recalled that Aida who in the is alleging that she didn’t participate in the election had earlier rejected the result of the election on the grounds of irregularities and malpractice ,which she is expected to prove at the tribunal.
