Drama unfolded at the Election Petition Tribunal for the Kogi State governorship election as the testimony of a witness representing the Social Democratic Party (SDP) took a surprising turn on Thursday. The witness’s statements before the Tribunal contradicted the documents submitted, rendering his testimony baseless.
The petitioners had shifted focus from the Biometric Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and current Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, forged his age declaration affidavit. However, the witness, Dan Musa Williams from the FCT High Court in Abuja, failed to substantiate his claims during cross-examination.
Initially asserting that the document did not originate from the FCT High Court, upon questioning, the witness could not provide evidence to support this assertion. Furthermore, the witness claimed that the affidavit was forged because it lacked the name and picture of the deponent. However, discrepancies arose when it was revealed that the affidavit submitted by the APC candidate to INEC did include the deponent’s name and picture and was sworn in Okene, Kogi State, not the FCT.
The inconsistencies between the witness’s testimony and the documents he presented undermined his credibility, leaving his testimony irreparably damaged. Consequently, the Tribunal adjourned the sitting to March 30, 2024, for further proceedings.
Representing the petitioners, Pius Akubo, SAN, was present, while Kanu Agabi SAN, JB Daudu SAN, and DC Denwigwe SAN represented the Respondents. The developments underscored the importance of coherence and accuracy in presenting evidence before the Tribunal.
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