An official of the West Africa Examination Council, Mr Fasasi Sarafa, on Friday, appeared before the governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Abeokuta to present the certified true copy of Governor Dapo Abiodun’s WAEC certificate to the panel.
WAEC was subpoenaed to tender Abiodun’s O-level certificate following allegation of certificate forgery levelled against the Governor by one of the witnesses called by the Peoples Democratic Party during proceedings at the tribunal.
Counsels to the respondents did not objection to the certificate tendered, but counsel to petitioners, Gordy Uche, SAN, expressed reservations concerning the copy of certificate brought by WAEC in comparison with what was earlier submitted by Governor Abiodun’s counsel.
He also informed the court that the 2nd respondent was ready to open his case, adding that he would close his case between Tuesday and Wednesday next week as he applied for an adjournment for his client to have enough time to prepare witnesses.
Meanwhile, a witness, Alowolodu Jimoh, an APC ward collation agent from Sagamu, appeared before the panel to testify in favour of his party and alleged that electoral process was disrupted by hoodlums opposed to the use of BVAS at his polling unit. The witness was cross examined by counsels to respondents.
Under cross-examination by the counsel to Independent National Electoral Commission, Olumide Ogidan, who asked him if the election was free and fair, the witness answered in the affirmative, but posited that the process was disrupted by opposition to use of BVAS in some polling units which made all parties in the election to be awarded zero score by INEC.
Counsel to the 3rd respondent, Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, however, asked the witness to show the tribunal his INEC agent card, which was tendered and subsequently marked as an exhibit RA4.
In it’s ruling, the tribunal admitted the scanned copy of the subpoena issued on WAEC, and marked it Exhibit RA1 while the original acknowledged copy was admitted and marked Exhibit RA2. The Governor’s result as produced by WAEC was marked Exhibit RA3.
Tribunal, however, adjourned till Monday, August 7, 2023.