ELECTION PETITION: PDP Big Wigs Storm Tribunal

A high-powered delegation of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Tuesday, stormed the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja to witness proceedings at the hearing of the petition filed by the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, challenging the victory of President Goodluck Jonathan in the 16 April, 2011 presidential election.

The delegation,  which was led by the party’s National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje include the erstwhile Acting National Chairman of the party and now Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Haliru, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, that of Police Affairs, Captain Caleb Olubolade (retd) as well as their counterpart in the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro.

Addressing newsmen at the end of proceedings, Baraje said the PDP will henceforth send a team of its very senior members to witness proceedings, as a way of showing solidarity with  President Jonathan, who is the 3rd respondent in the CPC’s petition and expressed optimism that the party will emerge victorious  at the end of the day.

“PDP is ever positive; we are never pessimists because we have a good case. Whenever we have our case, we are always in good position. So, we never have any fear. We came here today because we have a kind of schedule to attend sittings, and that schedule has just been brought out at the party level,” he said.

The National Chairman further stated that the high powered delegation is to send a message that the PDP, wherever they are, are confident.

Findings by P.M NEWS indicate that the decision by the PDP bigwigs to attend court proceedings may not be unconnected with testimonies of witnesses made during cross-examination and the publicity it had been attracting.

Meanwhile, CPC at the proceedings, withdrew its motion ex-parte dated Thursday 15 September.

According to the party’s lawyer, Mr. Oladipo Opeseyi (SAN), the  decision to withdraw the said motion seeking to serve a subpoena earlier issued by the five-man tribunal on the Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega,  was informed by an agreement reached by all counsel.

Based on the said understanding, the Director of Legal Services of the Commission would accept service on behalf of the chairman and “do the needful”.

The CPC called seven witnesses in the course of the day’s proceedings where it was revealed by one of the witnesses who participated during the election in Cross River state, that voters at the polling unit he worked during the poll were offered sums of money ranging between N500 – N1000 by agents of the president who positioned themselves at each unit and in a very menacing manner which created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation for those who were not likely to succumb to their coercion.

Further proceedings continue on Wednesday.

By Nnamdi Felix / Abuja