TheNewsGuru

Tag: BVAS

  • Delta Group asks APC to explain missing BVAS machines

    Delta Group asks APC to explain missing BVAS machines

    The Delta Consensus Group, DCG has tasked the All Progressives Congress, APC in Delta State to explain the circumstances that led to the destruction of the BVAS machines and burning of electoral materials in the stronghold of its Delta governorship candidate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege within the Delta Central Senatorial District.

    The group in a statement issued by its national coordinator, Manny Onye deplored what it termed as the continued deceit of the party in making some believe that it has a strong case against the winner of the election, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori.

    The group said that a party that could only win four out of 25 local government areas through violence certainly does not have anything to prove at the Supreme Court.

    While accusing party officials of pulling wool over the eyes of some members of the electorate, the group asked why it was that it was only in the alleged ‘stronghold’ of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege in Ughelli North that violence was witnessed during the governorship election.

    “We have heard the continued noise of some people still left with Omo-Agege and their claims of ‘Obtaining’ victory in the Supreme Court making us to wonder, on what basis.

    “It is no news that Omo-Agege was declared winner in only four out of 25 local government areas and those areas were places where irregularity were most pronounced during the election.

    “We are at this point asking the APC to come out and explain why it was that the party won in only places where significant manipulations and violence were recorded leading to the destruction of the BVAS machines in those areas.

    “As has been severally reported, the most disturbing irregularities in the Delta governorship polls were at Evwreni community in Omo-Agege’s base in Ughelli North where thugs went on rampage, attacked and wounded INEC officials, destroyed over three BVAS machines and set electoral materials on fire, among other heinous crimes.”

    “As the party has taken its case to the Supreme Court, we implore the diligent jurists to ask Omo-Agege what happened to the BVAS machines. The case of the BVAS machines must not be end up like the missing mace of the 8th Senate,” the group said.

    Concluding, the group said it has confidence in the Supreme Court to assert justice given that it would not give in to blackmail as being perpetuated through some propaganda acts of the APC.

  • Imo LP accuses INEC of defying court order for BVAS inspection

    Imo LP accuses INEC of defying court order for BVAS inspection

    The Labour Party in Imo has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of denying it access to inspect the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machine (BVAS) used for the November 11 Governorship poll.

    The state Chairman of the party, Mr Callistus Ihejiagwa, made the accusation at a news briefing in Owerri on Friday.

    Ihejiagwa said that the denial of access to the BVAS was in defiance to the November 26 order of the Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Owerri.

    According to reports, applications for the inspection of the materials were submitted to the INEC by the LP, PDP, YPP and APGA, respectively.

    The tribunal had, on November 26, given INEC until December 1, to make election materials available to the LP for inspection and forensic analysis.

    Ihejiagwa also said that the forensic inspection of election materials, including the BVAS, was part of the order of the tribunal.

    According to him, INEC had, on Wednesday, denied the availability of the BVAS for inspection, insisting that only the commission’s headquarters reserved the right to grant access to the BVAS for inspection.

    He said that the commission, however, made available only 65 of over 5,000 BVAS machines for inspection and denied the LP’s team of forensic experts access to the machines.

    He wondered why INEC would “deliberately frustrate the process of litigation” in an election where it was only an umpire.

    “Contrary to the orders of court for forensic analysis of BVAS machines, an INEC official is reading out figures of accreditation from the machines without allowing us access to Certified True Copies of the card copies for our own due diligence.

    “We have less than 24 hours to examine the BVAS machines, assemble and present our findings to the tribunal but here we are still awaiting access to the machines

    “The tribunal ordered for forensic inspection of the BVAS so the BVAS is specifically contained in the tribunal order,” Ihejiagwa said.

    Also, Mr Okwudili Anozie, the Counsel for the LP Governorship Candidate, Sen. Athan Achonu, said that the tribunal’s order for forensic examination of the BVAS machines would help ensure that the machines were not tampered with before and after the election.

    He decried INEC’s disobedience to the order and restated the party’s confidence in the judiciary for the dispensation of justice.

    Recall that INEC’S Head of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Emmanuella Ben-Opara, on Tuesday, confirmed that the materials requested for inspection were ready and waiting to be inspected.

    NAN

  • IReV not election results collation system – INEC clarifies

    IReV not election results collation system – INEC clarifies

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says its results viewing portal is to enhance election transparency and not a result collation or transmission system.

    The INEC Director of ICT, Paul Omokore, gave the clarification in his presentation titled: “The role of BVAS, IReV for Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo Governorship elections” at a two-day capacity workshop for journalists on Monday in Akwanga, Nasarawa State.

    Omokore advised journalists and members of the public not to confuse uploading of PU results to INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) with electronic transmission of results.

    He said that INEC Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is only used to upload pictures of PUs results on form EC8A to IReV, which does not translate to electronic transmission of results.

    “Form EC8A is the result that we collated at the PUs. We use BVAS to snap this form and upload the same thing to the IReV portal for public viewing.

    “This is not a collecting system. It does not tally a system. What it does is to snap the EC8A which is the result at the polling unit and upload the same to the public view. That is all.

    “I know that 70 per cent of the populace think that the others have collected the figures. No.

    “All what it does is snapping the EC8A that the presiding officers have collected all the scores of the parties, signed and stamped and then sends this same picture to the IReV for public viewing. That is all. So it is not a collecting system,” he said.

    Omokore said that from inception of elections in Nigeria, results were transmitted manually, from the PUs to the collation centres.

    He said that technology deployment had proven to be an effective tool in achieving free, fair and credible elections.

    He said that while challenges were eminent, INEC had put in extra efforts to ensure that they were mitigated.

    “The role of BVAS is to ensure one-person-one-vote. The role of the IReV Portal is to improve the openness and credibility of our elections,” he said.

    Ezenwa Nwagwu, who is also the Chairman, Partners for Electoral Reform, in his lecture titled: “Ethical Dilemma in Election Reporting: Navigating Bias, Balance and Promoting Transparency” urged journalists to uphold accuracy reporting.

    He said that the core issues in election reporting are Independence, unbiased and accuracy report by the media.

    “Accurate and transparent report is the only cure for fake news, which is the responsibility of the media,” Nwagu said.

    He advised the media to always investigate reasons behind some news being presented to the media by people with biased minds on electoral process and balance it with what the provision of the laws.

  • IREV: What PDP told INEC Chairman on Bayelsa, Kogi, Imo election results

    IREV: What PDP told INEC Chairman on Bayelsa, Kogi, Imo election results

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to honour his words of  uploading of election results from Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa on the commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

    The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, made the call while addressing a news conference on Sunday in Abuja.

    Ologunagba said that the PDP has noted the statement by Yakubu that INEC would make full use of its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the IReV portal for uploading and electronic transmission of results in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi governorship election.

    “The PDP notes that the INEC chairman has confirmed the use of BVAS and IREV in this election and even in previous election is a mandatory statutory requirement of the law

    “The PDP holds Yakubu directly responsible and accountable to his pronouncements and that INEC is bound by law to electronically transmit results directly from the polling units using these technologies.

    “The PDP is fully prepared for these elections and in line with the commitment of INEC will not accept any other means of transmitting results in these elections except as this manner pronounced by the INEC Chairman in line with requirement of Electoral Act, 2022,” Ologunagba said.

    Ologunagba to that PDP had commenced training of its polling agents at all levels to ensure total compliance to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) Electoral Act, 2022, INEC Guidelines and Regulations especially as confirmed by Yakubu.

    He expressed confidence that the party would win the elections in the three states.

    He said that in Bayelsa, the PDP has Gov. Douye Diri, “a miracle and performing governor, who is on the ground and enjoys the overwhelming support of the people.”

    He said that in Kogi, the PDP has a very popular candidate, Sen. Dino Melaye’s whose popularity and public acceptance have completely dwarfed and dumbed the rejected APC candidate, Usman Ododo.

    In Imo, Ologunagba said that the PDP had a very popular candidate in Sen. Samuel Anyanwu whose popularity and acceptance across the State “have thrown the Gov. Hope Uzodimma and the APC in the State into mortal fear.

    “Anyanwu’s mission to Make Imo Safe Again is resonating across the State and overwhelming majority of the people of Imo State are rallying with him to achieve this,” Ologunagba said.

    He also reiterated the party demands for the immediate removal of INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Imo, Prof. Sylvia Agu.

    He said that the PDP and other political parties had written several letters to INEC on the demand over allegation that Agu had been compromised.

    “Recently the political parties including the PDP, Labout Party, Young Progressives Party (YPP), African Democratic Party (ADC), Action Alliance (AA) among others staged a peaceful protest to INEC demanding for her immediate removal.

    “Agu is a relation of a national officer of the APC and there are allegations that she is being further compromised to assist the APC to rig the Nov. 11 governorship election in Imo State

    “The continuing stay in office of Agu as Imo REC is provocative, inciting and amount to testing the will of the people of Imo State and daring them to do their worse.

    “INEC has a lot of RECs from which the INEC Chairman can choose to replace Agu and avoid a scenario that could be worse than what happened in Adamawa State Governorship election where INEC refused to change the compromised REC.

    “INEC chairman must note that the integrity of an election process is directly relation to the confidence of the electorate,” he alleged.

  • INEC seeks media support as Imo Gubernatorial election approaches

    INEC seeks media support as Imo Gubernatorial election approaches

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has sought the support of the media for a peaceful conduct of the Nov. 11 governorship election in Imo.

    The National Commissioner and Member of Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC)  Mohammed Haruna, made the call at an engagement with media executives on Monday in Owerri, ahead of the poll.

    “The Media remains one of our critical stakeholders.

    “In reporting activities of the commission, pre-election, election, and post-election activities, we plead with the media to be factual, objective, and professional in their reportage,” Haruna said.

    The national commissioner urged the media, as citizens, “to be part of the discussion for the overall improvement of our electoral process based on your field observations.”

    He disclosed that the commission had implemented eight of the 13 schedule of activities published for the conduct of governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo.

    “We are now entering the period of submission of names of polling agents by political parties, publication of official register of voters by the commission and the notice of poll.

    “The last two activities are closing of campaign by political parties and the climax, which is the elections day proper,” he said.

    Haruna disclosed that all non-sensitive materials had been delivered to the three states in required quantities and good quality.

    “The production of sensitive materials has been completed and ready for delivery to the three states while the Registration Area Center (RAC) and Collation Center assessment is completed.

    “We are seeking the support of the media to create and promote awareness of the PVC collection exercise to boost the number of eligible Nigerians who will come out and vote on election day,” he stressed.

    He said the commission had provided braille ballot for visually impaired voters, made available magnifying glass for people with albinism and introduced enlarged posters for voters with hearing impairment.

    He said the commission had gone further to integrate into the voting procedure,  a process that accorded priority voting for persons with disabilities, vulnerable people like the elderly, pregnant and nursing mothers.

    Haruna, who also expressed concern over violence during campaigns in Kogi and Imo, appealed to politicians to allow peace to prevail.

    He also assured voters that the commission would not have glitches with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) during the governorship poll.

    Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Imo, Prof. Sylvia Agu, said the engagement was packaged to enlighten media executives on the guidelines, processes and procedures ahead of the governorship election.

    “The commission holds the media in high esteem as great partners in progress, and has therefore packaged this program to enhance the awareness and participation of voters in the state.

    “In telling of stories, I urge you all to emphasise the gains of participation and the need to protect our democracy,” Agu said.

    In his remarks, the state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Mr Ifeanyi Nwanguma, said the media would continue to support INEC to ensure free, fair and credible Imo governorship election.

    Nwanguma, however, appealed to security agencies to see journalists as partners in progress during and after the governorship election in the state.

    “I strongly believe that  together, we can achieve violence-free and credible governorship election come Nov. 11,” he added.

  • Bayelsa guber poll: INEC assures on deployment of BVAS, improved logistics

    Bayelsa guber poll: INEC assures on deployment of BVAS, improved logistics

    INEC on Thursday restated that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be deployed for voter accreditation and transmission of result on Nov. 11 governorship poll in Bayelsa.

    This was disclosed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Obo Effanga, at a news conference on the commission’s readiness for the forthcoming election at the INEC office in Yenagoa.

    He said that almost all the non-sensitive materials were already in the local government areas where the election would be conducted.

    He explained that the sensitive materials would, on arrival, be warehoused at the Cental Bank of Nigeria from where they would be distributed to various locations.

    Effanga said, “Nothing has changed with the process of election in Nigeria. We are still going to conduct election based on the provisions of the Constitution, Electoral Act and guidelines of INEC.

    “After voting at the polling units, the votes will be counted there, they will be recorded in the physical result sheet, we will use the BVAS to take a snapshot of the results.

    “They will be taken to the collation centre where the results are authenticated and the photograph that was taken will be uploaded onto the result viewing portal.

    “Then from there we move from the wards collation to the local government collation. From the local government collation, we come to the state collation centre.

    “That is when the final collation is done and the result is announced and a winner is declared.

    “I assure you on behalf of my team, we will do all our best to conduct a very good election, taking into cognisance what the Constitution says, what the Electoral Act says,” the REC said.

    He explained that the guidelines for the election would be strictly followed as the commision puts finishing touches to its plan to ensure success.

    “Every vote will count, we will ensure that every personnel sent to the field are adequately qualified and knowledgeable about the processes of election.

    “We will not interfere in any way to aid or assist anyone. Anybody that wants to win the election should be talking to the voters,” he said.

    According to him, eligible voters who have not collected their voter cards will do so from Sept. 11 to Oct. 9, adding that the collection of the voter cards will be at the local government offices of INEC.

    “In registration areas also known as wards where we have more than 500 voters’ cards that have not been collected, those cards will be available at those registration centres for the voters to collect their cards.

    “Every registration area that has more than 500 cards that have not been collected, the owners of those cards can go to the registration area centres and collect them.

    “But where you have less than that, you have to go to the INEC office in the local government area,” he said.

  • Guber Election: Tribunal refuses to grant LP application to bring BVAS to court

    Guber Election: Tribunal refuses to grant LP application to bring BVAS to court

    The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Enugu on Friday refused to grant the application of Chijioke Edeoga, the LP governorship candidate’s request to bring Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) used for election in court.

    Edeoga is challenging the declaration of Gov. Peter Mbah as the winner of the March 18 Governorship Election in Enugu State.

    The lead counsel to the petitioner, V. O Azinge, SAN, had during the hearing requested the tribunal to make another order summoning the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to bring the BVAS machines to the tribunal for inspection by the Labour Party.

    She had reminded the court that the INEC, the first respondent had refused to effect the order of the court by allowing the petitioner to inspect the BVAS machines.

    “The first respondent has disobeyed the court again by not bringing the BVAS to court today,” she told tribunal.

    In response, the INEC lawyer, Mr Humphrey Okoli, told the court that the INEC had obeyed the order by granting access to the LP.

    He said the attendance register being made to that effect was with him in the court to see that INEC had complied to the order.

    “The issue of the matter is that the petitioner failed to comply with the rules of service as they served their subpoena on the wrong person,” Okoli said.

    Reacting, Azinge objected to the position of the first respondent and prayed the court to mandate them to comply with the said order of the court issued on March 23.

    The petitioner’s counsel who was not happy with the ruling told the court that July 15 was Saturday, adding that INEC did not open on Saturdays.

    “My Lord, what I am asking for is extension of time within the week so that INEC could come for the inspection,” she pleaded.

    The Chairman of the tribunal, M.K Akano, in her ruling told the petitioners ‘ counsel to do the needful, explaining that court had to sit and hear the application before she could grant another order for inspection of BVAS.

    Akano maintained that the court was time-bound to deliver its judgement within 180 days and had other cases to entertain aside LP and the PDP matter.

    “This tribunal is time-bound to deliver its judgment within a specific period of time, and will not be able to give any extension of time to any party because there are more cases to be heard,” she explained.

    Meanwhile, some of the LP witnesses during cross examination told the tribunal that polling unit results were different from the results being collated.

    Augustine Ezeme and Solomon Attah, both LP polling agents, said the results of the polling units which the agents in Udenu and Igboeze North council areas monitored were different from the results collated at the council areas.

    The Chairman of the tribunal, however, adjourned the matter to July 15 for continuation of hearing.

  • Kano gov tussle: INEC presents 21 BVAS machines to tribunal

    Kano gov tussle: INEC presents 21 BVAS machines to tribunal

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday tendered to the Kano State Governorship Election Tribunal 21 Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.

    The machines were used in 21 polling stations in 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs), Tudun-Wada, Gaya, Gezawa, Bunkure, Bebeji, Ungogo, Ajingi, Warawa, Karaye and Garko.

    The petitioner, the All Progressives Congress (APC), on April 9 filed a petition challenging INEC for declaring Abba Kabir-Yusuf of the NNPP the winner of the March 18, 2023 gubernatorial election.

    The respondents are INEC, Abba Kabir-Yusuf and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

    Recalled the tribunal on June 6 granted leave to the petitioner to access and inspect the BVAS machines used by INEC in the governorship election.

    At the resumed sitting, Counsel to INEC, E.A.  Oshayomi  led Mr Ocheka, an INEC employee, to present the machines to the court.

    Ocheka told the court that the BVAS machines required protection because when their batteries run down codes would have to be sent from China before they could be reactivated.

    “Owing to safety reasons, let me go back with the BVAS to INEC office and whenever the court needs them I will bring them back,” Ocheka said.

    Counsel to the petitioner, Nureini Jimoh (SAN), tendered the 21 BVAS to the tribunal to support their petition and objected to the machines being returned to INEC.

    Counsel to Kabir-Yusuf, Mr R A Lawal, and Counsel to NNPP, Mr John Baylesha, did not object to the admissibility of the BVAS machines in evidence.

    “Once the petitioner tendered the machines, it is now left for the tribunal to decide where to keep them for safety reasons,” he said.

    The petitioner has so far presented 18 witnesses to testify before the court to prove its case.

    The three-man panel led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay adjourned the matter until July 12 for the continuation of hearing.

    NAN

  • Relocation of Tribunal: Imo people, political leaders hail President Court of Appeal

    Relocation of Tribunal: Imo people, political leaders hail President Court of Appeal

    …say tribunal can now adequately look into how election results surpassed BVAS accreditation

    Cross section of Imo people and political leaders under the umbrella of Imo political stakeholders forum have lauded the decision of the President Court of Appeal and Imo election petition tribunal Judges to relocate its sitting from Owerri to Nasarawa state.

    The National/state Assembly Election Tribunal, sitting at the old High Court premises, Owerri, Imo State capital, at the weekend relocated to the High Court Complex, Opposite Shopping Malls, Mararaba Nyanya, Nasarawa State.

    The Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Owerri branch, Daniel Odiba, disclosed this in a statement.

    The statement read in part, “This is to notify all lawyers, litigants and the general public that the National/state Assembly Election Petition Tribunal, Owerri, Imo State, has been relocated to the High Court Complex, Opposite Shopping Malls, Mararaba Nyanya, Nasarawa State.”

    Reacting to the development, the forum in a statement by its leader Amb.Sam Nwandu expressed optimism that with the relocation the tribunal will now have the atmosphere to look into how election results above bimodal voter accreditation system was announced by the electoral body INEC in some constituencies in Imo State.

    The statement read in part, “With this relocation we believe that it will give the judges the right atmosphere to look into how election results above bimodal voter accreditation system BVAS, was announced by the electoral body INEC. Most of the actual results of the Feb 25th House of Reps, Senate and House of Assembly election of March 18, was in no doubt contrary to original results as voted by the indigenes in that election.

    “INEC BVAS was active during the Feb and March 18 State Assembly election including the Supplementary election and going by the uploaded results through www.inecelectionresults.ng, what INEC declared was in complete variance with the uploaded figures by BVAS. For instance, in Okigwe Federal Constituency, the total accreditation uploaded in the INEC BVAS machine was not same with the huge figures of over 40,000 used in declaring APC winner against the Labour Party that won the election, IN Owerri municipal where less than 14,000 was accredited over 70,000 was used to declare APC winner against the Labour Party Candidate, IN the State Assembly seat for Ideato North local government, the PDP scored 5,063 votes as against the APC of 4,097 votes and the result was uploaded on inec server but APC was declared winner against the PDP candidate who won the election with figures above inec accreditation record. In Mbaitolu Federal constituency won by Labour, accreditation figures was manipulated to declare APC winner in a Supplementary election they lost, In Oguta/Ohaji/Oru West Federal constituency that PDP candidate Kingsley Uju was leading despite been arrested on election day, APC was declared winner with election figures above the BVAS recorded accreditation figures, In Orlu Federal Constituency which was lost APC, figures above accreditation numbers was used to declare APC winner , In Okigwe Senate and Orlu Senate results where announced for APC with manufactured figures above the total number of votes accredited by the BVAS machine same situation in AHIAZU Mbaise where Results was announced with fake BVAS accreditation in favour of APC.
    “Outrageously, that of Owerri Municipal council as announced by the INEC returning officer showed that APC scored 79,043 votes, LP scored 12,765 votes, PDP scored 9, 674 votes. It goes to show that in Owerri Municipal council, BVAS was not used to conduct the election; these issues should be looked at critically by the Judges and ensure that justice is served, and citizens confidence in Electoral process restored.”

    In Imo the electoral system was rapped and afterwards set on fire and the only way to quench that fire is for the Court to look into the political and electoral madness that happened during the 2023 General election and restore the peoples confidence in the electoral system and reaffirm their hope in the Judiciary by voiding all the fraudulently announced results with figures above accredited voters number or manipulated bvas accreditation numbers which was done in some of the constituencies especially during the Supplementary elections.

  • INEC deleted results on all BVAS we inspected – Atiku’s witness alleges

    INEC deleted results on all BVAS we inspected – Atiku’s witness alleges

    Mr Hitler Nwala, a witness of the  People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has told the Presidential Election Petition Court, (PEPC) that results on all the 110 BVAS machines he inspected were deleted.

    Nwala, a subpoenaed witness, made the assertion on Thursday in Abuja while giving evidence as an expert witness for the petitioners in their petition challenging the outcome of the Feb. 25 presidential election.

    The witness who was led in evidence by the petitioner’s lead counsel, Mr. Chris Uche, SAN, said that the machines inspected were only those from the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT).

    He also told the court that he was a Digital Forensic Analyst and that he didn’t know at what point the results were deleted on machines.

    Under cross-examination by counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Mr Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, the witness said that he attached a standard device used for such an exercise to the machine to arrive at the conclusion.

    When asked if he had the authority of the commission to attach an external device to the BVAS machine, the witness answered in the affirmative.

    Mahmoud further asked the witness if he was aware that inspecting only 110 machines out of 3,163 that were deployed in the FCT amounted to only 3.4 per cent of the total number of BVAS deployed in the FCT and 0.06 per cent of BVAS deployed nationwide.

    To this, the witness told the court that he only compiled the report and didn’t take out time to calculate the percentages.

    The INEC counsel attempted to give a BVAS machine to the witness to check if it was deleted as he had said in his report.

    The witness, however, said that it would be against the ethics of his profession to collect the BVAS machine in open court to check it.

    “It is professionally wrong to access a device that will be used as evidence in a court of competent jurisdiction because it will temper with the evidence.

    “We cannot access the device directly, what we do is to extract the evidence and take it for analysis.”

    Moreover, the witness told the court that since all the devices had the same model and looked the same on the outside, he couldn’t tell if it was one of the ones he inspected by merely looking at it.

    For his part, counsel to the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN told the witness that neither he nor any of his team members signed the six-volume forensic report.

    The witness, however, insisted that he signed the report as well as the certificate of compliance.

    On his part, counsel to President Bola Tinubu, Mr Wole Olanipekun, SAN confronted the witness with a portion of his report where he said that from his inspection of the machines, “nothing was intrinsically wrong with them”.

    “Were you in Abuja on the day of the presidential election?

    “If you were not in Abuja, how then can you know that there was nothing intrinsically wrong with the machines on the day of the election?”

    The witness said that he was not in Abuja and so he couldn’t have known if something went wrong with the machines on the day of the election.

    After the witness was discharged, the petitioners went further to tender Forms EC8A series from 20 local government areas of Ogun, 17 local government areas of Ondo, 27 local government areas of Jigawa, and 20 local government areas of Rivers.

    The Chairman of the court, Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned the hearing of the petition until Friday.

    Going by the pre-hearing report; Atiku and the PDP are expected to close their case on Friday.

    They had asked for three weeks to present their case which elapsed on Tuesday but because they had lost three days, one being the June 12 Democracy Day Public Holiday, the court extended their time by three days.

    NAN