Senate: Battle for Plateau central seat begins at elections tribunal

Battle for Plateau Central senatorial district seat between Mr David Paradang and Mr Hezekiah Dimka began Thursday at the Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos.

Paradang, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is challenging the victory of Dimka, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the 2019 National Assembly Elections at the tribunal.

When the case came up for hearing, Paradang’s counsel, led by Mr Sunday Oyawole, tendered almost 100 documents, which were accepted and marked accordingly by the tribunal.

Oyawole began prosecuting Paradang’s case by calling witnesses to testify with some of the documents tendered.

One of the prosecution witnesses (PW5) Mr Yohanna Iliya-Malo, a subpoenaed Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Collation Officer, gave an inside into alleged discrepancies at Kasuwa l polling unit, Gindiri ward, Mangu local government area (LGA).

When Oyawole presented Form EC8A1 for the ward, Iliya-Malo confirmed that it was the result sheet for the ward.

Responding to a question on the number of registered voters for the polling unit as reflected in exhibit P36, the witness confirmed that there were 858 registered voters.

The counsel further asked how many people were accredited for the elections, and Iliya-Malo replied that there were 239 persons.

“Tell the tribunal how votes were recorded in favour of the APC? Oyawole asked and the witness said; “345 votes’’.

“And how many votes were recorded in favour of the PDP? The witness also said; “79 votes.’’

When asked whether there were votes recorded for other parties, the witness answered in the affirmative saying; “ADP (1) SDP (1) and ABP (2) with no rejected vote’’.

After more witnesses were taken and cross examined by respondent’s counsel, the tribunal adjourned the case till today for continuation of hearing. (NAN)

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