Hearing of the Petition filed by the Action Congress (AC) governorship candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi against the declaration of Governor Segun Oni as winner of the April 25, 2009 rerun governorship election in Ekiti State continued on Wednesday, with all the witnesses called by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) testifying that allegation by the AC that the election results in Ifaki, Usi and Orin/Ora Wards of Ido-Osi Local Government were concocted was mere fabrication.

 

The witnesses that included Nwazuru John Emeka, Respondent Witness (RW130), Evelyn Akereke (RW131), Mary Pauline Umadi (RW132) and Adeesat Ibrahim (RW133) also testified that the election was free and fair, and that all relevant INEC forms were duly completed and submitted to the appropriate authorities at the conclusion of voting.

 

All the witnesses tendered copies of INEC Forms EC8A for their respective polling units and the forms were admitted as exhibit by the tribunal.

Nwazuru Emeka, who served as INEC Presiding Officer for Polling Unit 003, Ifaki ward 1 told the tribunal that contrary to claim by the petitioner, figure declared at the end of the election in his unit was not manipulated, manufactured and fictitious.

 

The witness, who noted that the total valid votes from his unit was 349, added that one vote was invalid and that 450 ballot papers were issued to him. He said he returned 100 unused 100 ballot papers.

Under cross examination by Chief Anthony Adeniyi, counsel to the petitioner, Nwazuru said the AC agent at his polling unit was a man and not one Mrs. Jeje Onigele as claimed by the petitioner.

 

“Can you remember that there was a woman, who came to tell you that she was the AC agent,” Adeniyi had asked, to which Nwazuru answered; “I can’t remember that. I only know of a man who refused to sign.”

“I suggest to you that AC party agent in your unit was a woman, Jeje Onigele,” Adeniyi asked further but Nwazuru said; “I don’t know. I only know of a man.”

Nwazuru also disagreed with Adeniyi when he said that; “The reason why the AC agent did not sign the Form EC8A was because of gross irregularities in the unit,” to which he (Nwazuru) answered; “I disagree with you.”

When Adeniyi also told the witness that one of the party agents was beaten and chased away, Nwazuru said; “No one was beaten. As a matter of fact, we had enough policemen taking care of the place.”

Also in her own evidence, Evelyn Akereke, who served as presiding officer for unit 005, Ifaki ward 1 said voters turnout in her unit was high, adding that contrary to claim by the AC, no individual or group came to the unit to announce that nobody should vote for any party except the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Another witness, Pauline Umadi, who presided over the election at polling unit 007, Ifaki ward 1 also, testified that the election was conducted in total compliance with INEC rules and regulations, adding that at the end of the election in her unit, she took the result and submitted it to the ward collation officer.