A witness of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), on Friday, mistook his role as a collation agent of the party during the Feb 25. presidential election for that of a collation officer.
The party had called in three witnesses before the tribunal on Friday in continuation of the hearing in its challenge of the electoral victory of President Bola Tinubu.
The witnesses called were Mohammed Sali Idris Kutigi, collation agent from Niger; Nicholas Msheriza, collation agent from Borno and Silas Joseph Onu, collation agent from Ebonyi.
During the cross-examination of the third witness Mr Onu by L.O Fagbemi, the lead counsel for All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Fagbemi asked the witness if he worked for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) or for the party.
Mr Fagbemi explained to Mr Onu that officers who worked for INEC were referred to as collation officers while officers that worked for a party were referred to as collation agents.
Mr Onu then informed the court that he understood Mr Fagbemi question, answering that he had worked as the party’s agent, thus making him a collation agent and not an officer.
Mr Fagbemi then brought to the court’s notice that in Mr Onu’s witness statement, he had stated that he was a collation officer, meaning that he worked as an INEC officer and not the party’s agent.
Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani, however, adjourned the case till Monday, June 5 for continuation of hearing.