From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
A statistician and expert witness, Isiaka Olanrewaju, on Monday told the Osun State election petition tribunal that he analysed the BVAS report and established over-voting in 749 polling units in 10 Local Government Areas of the state.
This is just as the tribunal struck out the counter-application of the 1st respondent, INEC, to stop the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) from tendering the certificate of the 2nd respondent, Ademola Adeleke.
Lead counsel INEC, Prof Paul Ananaba, SAN, had filed an objection to the subpoena of the plaintiffs to INEC and later withdrew the application during the sitting.
The application was subsequently struck out by the tribunal and the summon to invite INEC to present the certificate of Adeleke was upheld.
Led in evidence by the Petitioners’ counsel, Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN, the expert witness said he relied on forms EC8As, EC8B, EC8C, EC8D, EC8E and BVAS report released by INEC to arrive at his findings of analysis conducted on BIVAS.
However, during cross-examination by INEC counsel, Professor Ananaba, who put it to him that the witness analysed results of 762 units, he responded: “That is your opinion, I worked on just 749 units, where you see 762, I don’t know.”
The witness was also cross-examined by counsel for Adeleke, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, and counsel for the PDP, Alex Izinyon, SAN.
The tribunal led by Justice Tertsea Kume, however, adjourned the matter to Tuesday, November 22 for the continuation of the plaintiff’s case.