I signed doctored result sheet merely as a witness, not to authenticate it – Atiku’s LG agent

The 21st petitioners’ witness, Jafaru Usman, who served as the
Peoples Democratic Party’s local government collation agent for the
February 23, 2019, presidential election in Zaria, Kaduna State,
told the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in Abuja, on
Thursday, that results in his area were rigged in favour of the All
Progressives Congress.

But the witness, who is a lawyer, said he signed the Form EC8C,
the local government area result sheets, not as authentication of
what was contained in it but as a mere witness.

The petitioners are, by their petition filed before the Justice
Mohammed Garba-led tribunal of five judges, challenging the victory
of President Muhammadu Buhari and his APC at the poll.

Under cross-examination by Buhari’s lawyer, Chief Wole
Olanipekun (SAN), Usman said the polling unit results contained in
Forms EC8A ought to be transmitted to the ward result sheets, Forms
EC8B, and then transmitted to Form EC8C, which is the local
government result sheet, but that was not the case in his area.

“The correct results were not transmitted,” Usman said.

But when asked if he signed the Form EC8C, he said, “I signed in
line with the provision of the Electoral Act.

“I signed it but I did not authenticate what was contained in
it. I only signed as a witness in line with the Electoral Act.

“What I signed was not a contract.

“All those who were in attendance were required to sign in line
with Electoral Act.”

Asked if any of those who perpetrated the rigging were convicted
in court, he said, “I made complaints, they did nothing.”

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