Tribunal Witness Controversy: Kogi Governorship Poll Takes Dramatic Turn

Tribunal Witness Controversy: Kogi Governorship Poll Takes Dramatic Turn....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a surprising turn of events at the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal convened in Abuja, witnesses stirred up controversy by disavowing their previous testimonies before the panel. The session, presided over by a trio of justices led by Justice Ado Birnin-Kudu, witnessed four witnesses hailing from Adavi Local Government Area presenting their accounts in support of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Despite being stationed at different polling units during the gubernatorial election held on November 11, 2023, these witnesses provided strikingly similar narratives about their voting experiences. Initially, they affirmed their witness depositions made under oath. However, under scrutiny by the defense counsel during cross-examination, discrepancies emerged as they diverged from their sworn statements.

Rufai Muhammed, hailing from Adavi Local Government, exemplified this divergence. Initially asserting in his deposition that no valid accreditation occurred during the election, Muhammed later contradicted himself during cross-examination, admitting to being duly accredited and having cast his vote. He vehemently denied the content of his sworn deposition, claiming it was not authored by him.

Similarly, Yakubu AbdulAzeez, another witness, initially claimed to have observed over-voting from a fixed vantage point throughout the election day. However, during the tribunal hearing, AbdulAzeez disclosed his inability to stand due to a leg ailment since 2008, prompting the panel to provide him with a seat. This incongruity raised questions about his purported vigilant monitoring of the election while standing for hours.

The witnesses’ recantations and contradictions have injected an element of uncertainty into the proceedings, casting doubt on the reliability of their testimonies and underscoring the complexity of adjudicating electoral disputes.

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