ELECTION TRIBUNAL IN KANO FOR GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION 2011

Four out of the 24 witnesses who ANPP lawyers said it would present before Kano State governorship election tribunal to give evidence against the election of Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso of PDP yesterday testified before the tribunal.
Mahmud Abubakar Sadiq, ANPP collation officer and first prosecution witness, told the tribunal that some of the result sheets were not signed and stamped while several figures were altered in some polling units in the state.
When asked to identify his signature in his written statement of facts submitted to the tribunal, Sadiq said he has seven signatures and may not know the one referred to. Counsel to PDP Chief Akin Olujimi (SAN) who cross examined him, asked him to write out theseven signatures which were admitted as exhibit. But INEC counselDr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) argued that all the signatures do not represent the true signature of the witness.
The second witness Fredrick Elele who was ANPP collation officer incharge of Sabon Gari West Kano, alleged several mutilation of election results some of which were not stamped and signed by INEC officials. But in cross examination by PDP counsel Chief Olujimi, Elele said he could not say the number of ballot papers issued to the 53 polling units of the area and that he didn’t know whether there was accreditation in all the units.
The testimony of Shu`aibu Yau who served as ANPP agent in Maraku ward in Kiru local government was, however, a bit different as he requested the tribunal to cancel election in the entire ward.
He alleged that there were multiple voting, stuffing of ballot boxes and alteration of election results for which he refused to sign Form EC 8A in which results were tallied.
In his testimony, the ANPP returning officer for Bichi local government Garba Sada Bichi also alleged that some result sheets were not signed and stamped but he signed Form EC 8A after the election.
Before adjourning the case to today, the tribunal chairman Justice Iyabo Kasali frowned at the slow pace of presentation of witnessesand told prosecution counsels to measure up in bringing substantial witnesses.
The candidate for All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Alhaji Salihu Sagir Takai is challenging the election of Governor Rabi`u Musa kwankwaso of PDP at the tribunal alleging that it was characterizedby gross electoral malpractice.