Israel, who acted as an agent for the Labour Party, Unit 006, Ward 15, Lagos Island Local Government, provided this information in support of a petition filed by the Labour Party’s candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, who aimed to nullify Governor Sanwo-Olu’s victory.

According to Israel, the card reader indicated that both Sanwo-Olu and his wife possessed invalid cards.

However, they were still allowed to vote, which the witness considered a violation of the electoral process established by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

During cross-examination by INEC’s counsel, Charles Edosomwan, Israel alleged that he was physically assaulted by supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on election day.

He claimed to have identified them as APC supporters based on their language and stated that they threatened violence against voters who did not support the APC.

Israel recounted the incident, explaining that four individuals attacked him while votes were being cast. Despite the assault, he managed to escape, changed his clothes as a disguise, and returned to monitor the vote counting process.

The witness also highlighted instances of multiple voting at the polling unit and criticized the failure of INEC officials to address these irregularities.

The proceedings on this petition have been adjourned until July 3, when they will resume.

These documents were tendered by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, highlighting different names under which Tinubu registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Presented on Friday, the documents were certified copies and included Tinubu’s B.Sc. certificate from Chicago State University, his NYSC Discharge Certificate, and a certificate of service from Mobil Nigeria Oil Plc.

The PDP introduced these documents through their subpoenaed witness, Mike Enahoro Ebah, Esq., who acknowledged that the documents were allegedly obtained by Tinubu but bore the name ‘Bola Adekunle Tinubu’.

Under the examination of PDP counsel Chris Uche, SAN, the witness also submitted nomination forms EC13 and EC9, along with letters written to INEC as attachments.

Counsel representing INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud, Tinubu, Emmanuel Ukala, and the APC, Lateef Fagbemi, all raised objections regarding the admissibility of the documents.

These referenced documents consisted of certified true copies of form EC9 (Tinubu’s nomination letter), payment receipts for certification, a witness application letter requesting the documents, INEC’s response letter, Tinubu’s certificate from Chicago University, Tinubu’s NYSC discharge certificate, Tinubu’s certificate of service from Mobil Oil Nigeria PLC, and Tinubu’s party membership card.

Upon the PDP’s lead counsel’s application to submit these documents, all respondents objected to their admissibility.

Additionally, the witness presented academic records from Chicago University, a copy of the subpoena served on the university, the original academic records and degree certificate, the original admission letter, and the original transcript from the Southwest College to the university Tinubu attended. Notably, the transcript identified Tinubu as female.

Furthermore, the witness submitted a notarized judgment from the USA regarding the criminal forfeiture of Tinubu’s assets, along with the accompanying cover note authorizing the judgment. Extracts from a Guinea passport and a certificate of compliance for Tinubu were also included.

Among other documents presented were certified true copies of forms EC8A from 25 local government areas in Delta State, 13 local government areas in Ebonyi State, 18 local government areas in Edo State, 17 local government areas in Enugu State, 27 local government areas in Imo State, and 21 local government areas in Kogi State.

The hearing on Monday is only a preliminary hearing, according to Tinubu’s legal counsel. Before the main hearing begins, the hearing is to determine if there are any applications. A schedule will be created for the hearing on the important issues.

On April 23, the petitioners’ responses to the court stopped as well.

Due to his party receiving the majority of the votes cast, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Mahmood Yakubu had declared Tinubu the President-Elect on March 1.

He had polled 8.8 million to defeat Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 6.9 million, Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) who amassed 6.1 million and 15 others.

Disputing the Result, Atiku and Obi filed separate petitions seeking orders to annul the election or declare them the winners of the polls.

The PDP presidential candidate, who anchored his seven prayers on five grounds, asked the Presidential Election Tribunal to declare him the president-elect.

Alternatively, Atiku urged the court to cancel the election and order a fresh election due to alleged irregularities that marred the February 25 polls in thousands of polling units.

In their petition, Atiku and the PDP argued that as of March 1 when Tinubu was declared the winner of the election, the entire results and accreditation data from polling units had not been transmitted and uploaded by INEC.

Obi, who came third in the election, alleged that the election was characterised by various irregularities including the non-qualification of Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima to contest the election.

He also alleged that Tinubu failed to win the majority of the lawful votes cast in the election, and just as he could not secure one-quarter of the lawful votes cast in the FCT.

The Tribunal dismissed the suit challenging Governor Obaseki’s victory in the September poll in a unanimous ruling delivered on Thursday in Benin City, the state capital.

Justice Chukwudi Nwakwo delivered the ruling in the presence of the Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Abdulrazak Abdulkareem, and the third judge, Justice Josephine Ayua.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the platform on which Governor Obaseki sought re-election, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which declared the governor as the winner, were joined as respondents to the petition.

When the case was called, the counsel to the petitioners, Steven Osaigbovo, was not present in court.

In its ruling, the Tribunal held that in the petition against the first and second respondents, the petitioners failed to file the pre-hearing notice.

As a result, it ruled that the petitioners were deemed to have abandoned the petition and, thereafter, dismissed the suit.

Similarly, in the petition against the third respondent, the Tribunal held that the pre-hearing notice was not filed within time by the petitioners.

It, therefore, went ahead to dismiss the petition.

Recall that INEC had issued a returned certificate to Governor Obaseki and Deputy Governor Shaibu elected after they were declared winner the electoral umpire on September 19.

The governor polled 307,955 of the total votes, 84,336 more votes than his closest rival Ize-Iyamu who got 223, 619 votes.

He reacted to the verdict in several tweets on Friday, appealing to his fans not to be worried.

In the tweet with a picture and a caption; “He who laugh(sic) last, laugh best…KOGI Governor loading.”

He said in a second tweet, in the aftermath of the verdict.

“On Tribunal judgement. No cause 4 alarm at all. Even if it went my way they will still go to the Appeal Court. Our mandate can not be taken. We will get judgment at the Appeal Court. There will be fresh election in Kogi West bc I will be Governor. For my Senate mandate no shaking,” he said.

Melaye, who is also gunning for the Kogi governorship post in November believes he “will laugh last’, insinuating that his rival’s victory at the tribunal was pyrrhic because ‘there will be fresh election in Kogi West and he will be governor”.

Recall that Melaye in February 2109 election had polled a total of 85,395 votes to defeat his APC opponent who scored 66,902 votes.

But the APC candidate, Sam Adeyemi proceeded to challenge the declaration on three grounds of irregularities, overvoting and non-compliance with the Electoral Act.

According to Vanguard, the three-man panel led by Justice A. O. Chijioke, in a unanimous judgment on Friday, accepted Adeyemi’s ground and ordered for another election in the senatorial district.

Details later…