Senator Aisha Alhassan

The All Progressives Congress (APC) agents at the April 11 governorship election in the north eastern Nigerian state of Taraba have alleged irregularities at the poll before the Election Petition Tribunal, in testimonies  in Abuja today.

The witnesses testified in the suit filed by the APC Governorship Candidate, Sen. Aisha Alhassan, who is contesting the election of Gov. Darius Ishaku of the PDP.

They were all examined by all the counsels involved in the suit, including Mr Mahmud Abubakar (SAN) counsel to the Alhassan; Mr Kanu Agabi (SAN) counsel to Ishaku; Mr Solo Akuma (SAN) counsel to PDP, and Mr Abayomi Akanmode counsel to INEC.

Most of the witnesses alleged that due to the irregularities that marred the elections they refused to accept the result sheets given to them in their various polling units.

They told the tribunal that they hailed from Bantaje wards at Wukari local government area of Taraba and did file their petitions to the tribunal at Jalingo on May 15.

One of the agents, Mr Murtala Bankaje, told the tribunal that he refused to sign the result sheets because he discovered that the number of total votes recorded exceeded the number of accredited voters.

On his part, Mr Lawal Umar, said he reported the “irregularities’’ at the election to INEC and his ward chairman.

Similarly, Mr Salisu Labaran, said though the election went peacefully, “I did not accept the results on the result sheet because of the wrong doings at the election’’.

Mr Abdullahi Ibrahim also alleged that the number of voters recorded in the result sheets exceeded the number of accredited persons during the accreditation.
According to him, there was over voting.

Justice Musa Abubakar, the tribunal Chairman, adjourned further hearing in the suit to Aug. 19.