Several inconsistencies and similarities were discovered in the witnesses’ statements made by witnesses of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the proceedings of the governorship election petitions tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital yesterday
One of the witnesses, Mrs Mulikat Yemi from Ota who admitted similarities in her statement with that of another witness, Balogun Olanrewaju, during cross examination by the counsel to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including same errors and omissions in paragraph six of their statements, told the tribunal to question her lawyer for the repetition.
Another witness, Thomas Abiodun who appeared before the panel for the party from Iyesi-Ota in Ado Odo Ota local government area, claimed to have signed the statement he presented on June 16, 2023, whereas the statement was actually signed on April 6, 2023.
Also, paragraphs three and four of his statement, after being sighted and compared were confirmed to be the same with other witnesses’ statements.
Abiodun lied on oath when he told the tribunal that his statement was based on his personal knowledge, but after being cross-examined, he changed this claim and said the information in his statement came from an unnamed official of the INEC.
In the same vein, it was discovered after thorough scrutiny by the counsel to INEC that witness’ statement submitted by another individual called by the PDP, Mr Kushimo Akeem, a cloth seller from Gbagura in Abeokuta North local government area, was exactly the same with the witnesses’ statements earlier presented.
