On Thursday, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), presented a witness before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in Abuja.
Atiku and the PDP are contesting the victory of President Bola Tinubu from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the presidential election held on February 25.
During the court proceedings, Atiku’s first witness, Capt. Joe Agada (retd.), testified that he served as the state collation agent for the PDP in Kogi State during the general election.
The witness informed the court that he was coerced by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to sign the result of the presidential election. He claimed that the INEC officials refused to provide him with a copy of the result unless he signed the document.
Led in his testimony by Atiku’s lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, the witness asserted that the presidential election result in Kogi State was manipulated.
He stated that during his visits to over 20 polling units, he personally observed the manipulation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.
Agada said, “My lords, apart from where I voted, which was at Ogene- Oforachi village in Ogugu Ward in Kogi State, I also served as my party’s State Collation Agent.
“I had a tag and a vehicle with a sticker that identified me as being on election duty. The exemption tag which was issued to me by INEC allowed me to move around on election day.
“I had the opportunity of visiting some highlighted polling units in my LGA, even though I did not visit all the polling units.”
During cross-examination by counsel for the INEC, Mr. Abdullahi Aliyu, SAN, the witness maintained that he observed all the manipulations that took place in Kogi State during the election.
He said, “My lords, I am a witness of truth. I did not visit all the polling units but I was present when BVAS in over 20 PUs were being manipulated across the two Senatorial Districts that I visited.
“I may not be exact, but there are nothing less than 3500 polling units in Kogi State.
“I spent between three to five minutes in each of the polling units that I visited,” the witness added.
When asked if agents of the PDP signed the result sheets, the witness replied, “Yes, our agents signed the Forms EC8A, EC8B and EC8C.
“But they were forced to sign the results, especially in Kogi State, because INEC said they would not give us copies unless we signed.”
Rwaponding to questions from one of the lawyers that appeared for President Tinubu, Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN, the witness, said the PDP had agents in all the polling units in the state.
Asked if as the State Collation Agent of the PDP, he signed the result sheet, he said: “My lords, I was forced to sign the state collection result because without signing, they said they would deny me a copy to take to my party.
“I thereafter protested and also wrote a petition to INEC,” he said.
This was even as the witness told the court that he also served as State Collation Agent for the PDP in 2015, and also appeared as a witness in the 2019 presidential election dispute between Atiku and former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“In 2015, I refused to sign the result. But at that time, INEC did not deny me a copy to take to my party. But this year, the INEC man insisted that they would not give me a copy unless I signed the result,” Capt. Agada, retd, he said.
Atiku’s presentation of this witness and his testimony serves as part of their efforts to challenge the declaration of President Bola Tinubu as the winner of the presidential contest.
The allegations raised by the witness highlight concerns regarding the conduct and integrity of the electoral process in Kogi State during the election.
The court proceedings provide a platform for Atiku and the PDP to present their case and provide evidence to substantiate their claims of electoral malpractices.
The testimony of Capt. Agada aims to support their argument that the presidential election result in Kogi State was rigged.
As the legal proceedings continue, it is essential for the court to carefully evaluate the evidence presented by both parties. The goal is to ensure a fair and transparent process that upholds the principles of democracy and respects the will of the Nigerian people.
The outcome of the case will have significant implications for the credibility of the electoral system and the future of democratic processes in Nigeria.
