The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate in the last election, Atiku Abubakar, said yesterday that some of their witnesses have suffered attack on the way to Abuja.
The information, which was made public by their lawyers at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), forced the tribunal to adjourn proceedings to Monday.
Lawyer to the PDP and Atiku, Chris Uche (SAN), made the information public while the tribunal was about to go on break after the petitioners had called eight witnesses.
Uche did not mention the number of people involved in the attack and where it occurred.
Uche said: “I am not sure if the next set of witnesses would be available. We got information that they were waylaid by armed men while on their way from Zamfara State to Abuja.”
Another member of the petitioners’ legal team, Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), corroborated the claim.
Uzoukwu said: “I was the one that was called on the phone. I kept having the repeated calls and had to go out to answer.
“I was told that while the witnesses were on their way from Zamfara State, they were attacked by armed men.
“Some of them jumped into the bush and some of them were gravely injured.
“Up till now, they are still looking for some of them in the bush.”
The petitioners, who by yesterday had spent seven out of the 10 days allocated to them to conduct their case, have called 36 witnesses so far.
Among the eight witnesses called yesterday by the petitioners was Peter Sabo, who said he acted as PDP local government collation agent in Borno State, where he claimed that APC supporters allegedly snatched ballot boxes.
Sabo also claimed that accreditation and voting did not take place in four wards that he monitored.
He added that security agents chased away PDP agents, a development he claimed prevented them from trailing the electoral materials that were diverted.
The witnesses, who said they reported the development to security agencies, tendered a petition to INEC, the Department of State Service (DSS), the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
Alhaji Modu Ahmed, who said he also acted as PDP agent in Borno State, alleged that electoral materials were diverted.
Modu claimed security agents did not allow PDP agents to enter inside the lodge.
The petitioners also called Usman Adamu and Hassan Masarautan who said they served as PDP Local Government collation agents in Yobe state.
Masaruata told the court that a former Chairman of Potiskum LGA in Yobe State, who he identified as Ado Hamza Goje, harassed and intimidated civil servants, traditional title holders and farmers to vote for the APC or have themselves punished.
He said the electorates were told to either vote Buhari or lose their jobs, traditional titles and farmlands.
Also, Oluwafemi Ogunrinde, who said he acted as an INEC ad-hoc staff in the capacity of an Assistant Presiding Officer 1, stated that he personally uploaded results to INEC’s central server, using a code he said was handed to him about two hours before the presidential election commenced.
Ogunrinde said he was directed to ensure that he uploaded results and information that was captured by the Card Reader Machines into the server, using a code that was provided by INEC.
When asked if he could remember the total number of votes scored by APC and PDP in his centre, Ogunrinde said: “On that day, I did not have personal interest. I just wanted to do the job as I was trained, so I did not check to know what any political party scored.”
On whether he ever saw the said INEC server, Ogunrinde added: “No, my Lord, I couldn’t have seen it because I am not INEC official. I only worked as an ad-hoc staff for the election.
“The INEC official said the server existed and that was where we transmitted results to.”