APC Seeks For Adjournment to present more witnesses from Mangu LGA.
By Azi Peter – Jos
The Plateau state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, EPT/PL/Gov/2023 between Dr. Nentawe Yilwada of the All Progressives Congress Vs Caleb Mutfwang of People’s Democratic (PDP), sitting in Jos, continues on Wednesday for trial.
The Petitioners called more witnesses from wards and polling units particularly in Langtang South and Quan’Pan LGAs.
First to testify was Henry Gonpe,who was stood down on Tuesday after affirmed by the tribunal but there was heavy
rainfall that led to the adjournment.
He said he lives in Lankaku Village of Namu District of Quan’Pan LGA .
When answering questions under cross Examination from the Counsel to the first respondents,the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
W . A Olajide.
Asked if the witness can remember the total number of accredited voters and he said no.
The Learned Senior Counsel to the second respondents,P.A Akubo
Also rigorously engaged the witness and sort to know if the witness understand the word discrepancies as he used in his statement on oath and he said he doesn’t know.
Also ask if his name and signature is on the result sheet and he answered yes I signed so that I can be giving the copy of the result sheet.
Damkuk Shedrack, from Dinshang in Langtang South LGA inform the tribunal of his intention to amend paragraphs 1 and four of his deposition,the name of his Polling unit is Dinshang not Dinshan as appeared at the statement.
The Application was objected by the Counsel to the first respondent but was not objected by the second and third respondents counsels.
Asked by the Counsel to the second respondents that there was a column for the APC Agent to write his name and signature. Yes fighting started and we could not write our names as agents on the result sheet.
Bimor Ganaka,From Tunbol, Langtang South LGA,testified as PW 47 .
When he was asked whether he was around to the end of voting at his polling unit,He said yes.
Look at your statement. Did you mention the names of persons that were not captured by BVAS and yet cast their votes? No i did not but some people voted without accreditation.
Did you write any figure in your statement of those that voted without verification? No the figure is there on the result sheet.
The witness further cross examined by the Counsel to the third respondents. Emeka Etiaba SAN.
Uptil the time you came to testify,have you made written complain to the INEC that something when wrong in Your Polling unit? I complain and was asked to present the copy, the witness said that the copy is his result sheet.
Meshack Bashiri from Angulu Jos,Zawan B. Ward of Jos South Local Government Area took his turn to testified and after his testimony,
The Counsel to the Petitioners told the court that regrettably,no further witness because of the crisies in Mangu and their next witnesses are from their,he then ask for adjournment to Thursday and they will try and do their best to bring them.
There was no objections from the respondents but the Counsel to the second respondents,P.A Akubo told the tribunal that the tree weeks for the Petitioners to prove their case will elapsed on Friday this week. I will urge your lordships to make an order that the three weeks will end on Friday.
The tribunal said their went back and checked their records but didn’t get anything to hold on the Petitioners that they said they needed three weeks during the prehearing session to prove their case.
Unless if there is word of honour they made from the inner bar.
The case adjourned to Thursday for continuation of Hearing.
