INEC officials deny fraud in 2003 presidential polls
From Emmanuel Onwubiko, Abuja
LEGAL battle yesterday continued at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials in Edo State said the April 19, 2003 polls were hitch-free in the state.
Led in evidence by Ebun Sotunde (SAN) first witness, Francis Abikui Kpefua, an INEC employee who served as electoral officer during the election, told the tribunal that in his Oredo Local Council duty post he did not receive reports of electoral irregularities.
He said: "The allegations of dispersing voters at their polling units and diversion of ballot boxes by armed soldiers at one Chief Adun's residence made by one Elizabeth Oba Okabuya who is unknown to me are untrue."
The witness also denied allegation by Emmanuel Arigbe Orsula, an ANPP witness, that the distribution of electoral materials did not take place at the INEC office as should have been the case on the morning of elections, adding: "I never got any report of any incident of ballot box stuffing or thuggery as alleged."
He said INEC did not recognise the post of party supervisory collation agent, which the two witnesses said they were during the elections.
"INEC only recognises party agents at the polling units as well as party agents at the collation centres," he stressed.
Cross-examining the witness, Counsel to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Gboyega Awomolo (SAN) established that as the electoral officer during the elections, the duties of the witness included supervision as well as taking complaints concerning the conduct of the election in the local council.
Counsel to General Muhammadu Buhari, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN), in his cross-examination of the witness, suggested to him that he could not remember the times he claimed to have visited the six wards because he went nowhere on the day of the elections.
The witness, however, agreed with Ahamba when he suggested to him that it was not part of his responsibility as an electoral official to receive reports bordering on crime during the election.
"Such issues are to be reported to the police. However, the police never briefed me to aid investigation of criminal matters related to the elections," the witnessed said.
Another INEC official, Mrs Patricia Idele, who was also an electoral officer in charge of Etsako West Local Council also denied that elections in her area were marred by violence.
"It is true that military men were around at the INEC office but no one was chased away. Those authorised to be at the INEC office were allowed to be there for the distribution of electoral materials", she said.
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