Kwara tribunal admits Belgore’s newspaper interview as evidence

ACN candidate, Dele Belgore.

The Election Petition filed by the candidate of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Dele Belgore against the victory of Abdulfatah Ahmed of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday suffered another setback as the tribunal admitted in evidence newspaper reports where Dele Belgore was quoted to have described the April election as generally free, fair and credible.

Earlier, counsel to first and second respondent, Lawal Rabana SAN, has sought to tender as exhibits newspaper reports (The Punch and the Guardian, 27, April, 2011) where Mr Belgore admitted that the election was "impressive particularly the large turnout of the people", through a staff of national library.

This was however objected to by counsel to the petitioner, Osaro Eghobamien SAN, saying that the exhibits ought to have been front loaded.

Ruling on the issue, tribunal Chairman, Ngozi Emehelu said "it is agreed that the documents produced are based on supine, that the documents presented are relevant to the proceedings as applied in Agagu vs Mimiko. The document is therefore admissible, admitted and objection is hereby overruled".

It would be recalled that earlier in the proceedings, during cross-examination, key witnesses presented by the petitioner had denied being forensic experts as against their statement on oath.

Testifying before the tribunal, a witness of the PDP, Lawal Lambe, who was the party's agent and supervisor for Oke-Ode ward II in Ifelodun Local Government Area confirmed that the presiding officers at various polling units of the said ward properly carried out accreditation of voters before the commencement of election proper.

At the end of the voting exercise, Mr Lambe disclosed that votes were counted in the presence of party agents and results entered respectively in the result sheet forms EC8A and EC60.

"I know as a fact that the election was generally peaceful and no incidence of violence, intimidation and or harassment of voters in any of the polling units that make up Oke-Ode ward II", Mr Lambe said.

He further told the tribunal that members of the State Security Services (SSS), presiding officers from various polling units, representatives of respective political parties as well as members of the Nigeria Police Force were all in attendance at the collation centre in Oke-Ode Ward II where the entire results for the ward were collated.

Another witness, Olakunle Salawu, a PDP ward supervisor for Akanbi Ward II in Ilorin South Local Government also confirmed that all electoral forms relevant to the governorship election were duly completed and pasted at the polling units in the ward as there was no snatching of ballot boxes by anybody as alleged by the ACN.

Maleek Olanrewaju Olokoto, also a PDP supervisory agent at Bode-Saadu ward of Moro Local Government in his evidence at the tribunal simply said, "the election was one man one vote", referring to the April 26 governorship election that was being challenged before the tribunal by the ACN.

"There was no incidence of snatching of election materials, ballot papers and boxes by PDP stalwarts or anybody whatsoever, that ballot papers were properly issued and used at designated units and the election was conducted peacefully and smoothly", Mr Olokoto said.
First and second respondent have rounded-off their defense after presenting 54 witnesses.

While advising the counsels in the petition to beware of time wastage so as to have enough time to address the matter, hearing continues tomorrow as the 3rd respondent, PDP, is expected to open its defense.

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