The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday urged the Election Petition Tribunal in Kwara State, to dismiss a suit filed by Alhaji Razaq Atunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party, challenging the election of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazak of the All Progressives Congress.
The PDP is challenging the election of Abdulrazaq on the allegation that he does not have WAEC results as required by law.
Rowland Ottaru, SAN, INEC counsel while adopting his final written addresses in the matter, argued that the petition was bound to fail, as the petitioner has not been able to prove all the allegations of forgery.
“They intended to call some witnesses but refused to bring all their witnesses to court and the person they brought from WAEC, we were able to establish our cases through him.
“The witness they brought also supported our position and mentioned that the certificates that the Governor submitted to INEC were genuine and WAEC also confirmed that the certificate was genuine
“So the facts we have made is that the WAEC result has been submitted to confirm that our position is genuine, and they have not been able to prove their case beyond reasonable doubt
“In any case when you allege crime or the commission of any crime or criminality, you must have to prove beyond reasonable doubt, which they have failed to do,” he said.
Also in his final argument, Mr Kunle Kalejaiye, SAN, counsel to Governor Abdulrazaq said that a witness confirmed the authenticity of the WAEC certificate belonging to the governor.
“The witness, Mohammed Yaro told the court that he finished from Government College, Kaduna, in 1976 with Abdulrazaq and they both sat for the WAEC examination
“The witness said that the governor’s serial number in WAEC was 119, while his was 122
“Our witness confirmed to court that he was friends with Governor Abdulrazaq and both of them sat for the WAEC in June 1976 at the Government College in Kaduna, Kaduna State,” he said.
In his argument, Mr Kingsley Odey, counsel to the petitioner, claimed that Governor Abdulrasaq failed to produce his original WAEC certificate that he got in 1976.
“Governor Abdulrazaq’s original WAEC certificate was never produced, except for the photocopy.
“They forged documents that were annexed to the second respondent and submitted it to INEC
After listening to the arguments, Chairman of the Tribunal sitting in Ilorin, Justice Bassey Effiong, fixed September 20 for judgment.
