Presidential Tribunal: HDP Commences Presentation Of Case Against Buhari

*Court rejects two petitioners’ witnesses

The Hope Democratic Party (HDP), has commenced the presentation
of its first witness, Yusuf Ibrahim, while challenging the election
victory of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The witness told the court on Monday that though he was in the
country on February 23 when the election took place, he had voted
at a referendum conducted by a citizenship group on February 16,
2019.

He said he is aware that the President was voted in for a second
term on February 23, 2019.

When asked if he has any documents to show the 50 million
referendum voters he deposed to in his witness statement, Ibrahim
said the available documents are available with his lawyers even
though it is not attached.

Under cross-examination by the counsel to the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mr Yinus Usman, the witness
agreed that the commission is the only body vested with the power
to conduct an election.

The counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr Akin
Olujimi asked the witness if the referendum referred to in his
witness statement was a celestial exercise or through the internet?
The witness said it was a physical exercise.

While the counsel to the HDP, Mr Eze Nnayelugo has asked the
court for leave to tender a document before the court.

But the counsel to the President objected to the tendering of
documents because the stage for tendering a document has
passed.

This position was supported that chairman of the tribunal.

The counsel to the HDP has tendered two documents certified
copies of two daily newspapers for the 15th and 20tb of February
2019.

The counsel also tendered a copy of the Nigerian Tribune of
Monday 18th February 2019.

He also tendered copies of the Guardian and New telegraph 18th
February 2019.

The court however rejected two other witnesses called by the
petitioners, including a supeonaed witness,on the grounds that they
had no written depositions, as required by law.

Nnalugo later announced the closure of the petitioners’
case.

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