Akpabio’s witness reportedly admits there was no accreditation at polling units

Senator Godswill Akpabio, the immediate past representative of Ikot Ekpene Senatorial district in the National Assembly, on June 10, 2019, was stunned as one of his witnesses, Mr. Usen, admitted that there was no accreditation in polling units in the ward where he was a collation agent.

Akpabio, who was in court for the first time since the National Assembly Petition Tribunal began sitting, was opportune to be briefed through the prehearing report of the tribunal, which marked the end of the prehearing session and commencement of trial.

Mr. Usen, one of the witnesses who identified himself as APC chieftain and 2019 elections ward collating officer in Essien Udim Local Government Area, affirmed that the box designed for accreditation of voters was not ticked on result sheets shown to him by INEC, which means there was no accreditation in seven polling units, leading to cancellation of elections in those units.

The witness also responded that voters’ registers and card readers are tools for accreditation, and explained that where the card reader fails, accreditation are usually done manually.

The witness who was up to testify that INEC was not justified in cancelling the results from the units, also told the tribunal that card readers malfunctioned in various polling units in his area.

Taking the floor, Barr. Emukporueo, representing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and two other officials of the Commission joined as respondents, asked if the witness is aware that results of seven units were cancelled in his ward, but he replies negatively.

Barr. Emukporoeu craved the indulgence of the tribunal to put it to the witness, that the results which led to the cancellation of seven polling units in his ward are completely inconsistent and not a product of the voters’ registers which were marked as exhibits R2, R4, R5, R7, R8, R11.

The Counsel to the petitioner, Barr. Ameh’s made futile attempt to save his witness who was apparently running out of explanations on the exhibit, which did not indicate accreditation of voters.

Ameh argued before the tribunal that the witness is not the maker of the documents and the function of the voters’ registers are for the polling units, stressing that his witness was a ward agent.

Barr. Emukporueo urged the tribunal to overrule the objection of his colleague as the questions were reactions to the words of the witness himself, who said that card readers malfunctioned and accreditation was done manually, thus opening himself to questions concerning the voters’ registers.

He referred the tribunal to section 222 of the evidence act, and held that the witness got questions within the confines of the evidence act, to test his credibility and would be unfair to INEC to be stopped from asking their questions.

He finally submitted that it is a life and critical issue to ask if there was accreditation and election, adding that there was no election because election is a process, which starts with accreditation.

He also held that materials were hijacked, while ad-hoc staffs were kidnapped and abducted.

The tribunal, after listening to arguments of all the parties, ruled that the witness should answer the questions directed to him, as they are all in line with Section 295(2) of the evidence act.

The tribunal accordingly adjourned to Friday, June 14, 2019.

Meanwhile, a socio-political group, Akwa Ibom Liberation Movement, AILM, has described the confession of Akpabio’s witness as testimony to their earlier stand that APC has nothing to do at the tribunal.

Reacting to the issue, the leader of the AILM, Prince Emmanuel Sam noted that APC is only at the tribunal to make noise as the party was totally defeated in the last general elections in the state.

Sam said, since the party leaders in Akwa Ibom State does not know their bearings, the have now resorted to attacking the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini as a way of assuaging their defeat.
He called Akwa Ibomites to remain calm and watch God deals with Akpabio.

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