We can’t lie under oath – youth corpers tell APC, INEC

We can’t lie under oath – youth corpers tell APC, INEC

Some former members of the National Youths Service Corps who were employed by INEC during the September 28 Election have informed APC and INEC lobbyists that they will not honour INEC invitation to testify at the tribunal.

They allegedly informed the lobbyists that if they are eventually subpoenaed at the request of INEC or APC, they will testify only the truth and this may not go well with the wishes and requests of the APC.

One of the members, from the south west, who spoke to Urhokpota Reporters on condition of anonymity said, among other things, that;

“We are not ready to risk jail term for any politician. No! No! No! As for me, they have approached me and I told them that I will not testify unless they let me testify the truth of the nonsense that happened on that fateful day.”

Another member, from Osun state, who said he was a CLO, shared the same sentiments. When asked what he would do if subpoenaed, he dismissed the possibility but added a caveat that he would be forced to report the truth.

“If they made the mistake to subpoena me, they should be prepared to hear the truth, the ugly truth.” He said.

The Edo election petition tribunal has been constituted by a petition by PDP and their candidate who are both claiming that the election was won by them whereas the APC, their candidate and their INEC are responding claiming that the election was free and fair.

The PDP and their candidate have finished presenting their case. They submitted by asking the tribunal to declare them as winner of the September 28 Edo Election because, according to their petition, they won the lawful votes cast at the election.

The APC have responded and they asked the tribunal to uphold the election, claiming that the result declared by INEC was correct.

Although the APC are yet to lead evidence to support their response, but documents and evidence by witnesses including subpoenaed witnesses from INEC reveal that the result declared by INEC isn’t credible as there are significant discrepancies between recounted ballots and declared results by the same INEC.

INEC was to commence their response this week but they have curiously pleaded for more time, claiming that their witnesses aren’t prepared to come forth immediately.

The tribunal has given INEC an extension of a few days to get witnesses and they are expected to commence today. It remains to be seen whether the witnesses, most of whom are former youth corps members and university lectures at the federal university in Ekiti, will be forthcoming.

Meanwhile, rumours are rife in Edo that the APC and INEC are making subterranean moves to recruit fake INEC adhoc staff to testify. If this is found to be true, the culprits risk jail term because it is criminal to lie on oath or deceive a judge by fraudulent means.

So far, the judges of the Edo Elections Governorship Election Petition Tribunal have been fair to both sides of the petition. Neither the petitioners nor the respondents have accused the judges or the tribunal of any wrongdoing or taking sides.

It remains to be seen what decision the tribunal will take in case that has proven to be of intense interest to Edo people and Nigerians including the international community who want to see how independent and judicious is the Nigerian judiciary under the current dispensation.