Saraki faults forensic report by PDP

The counsel to Senate President, who is also the senator representing Kwara Central senatorial district in the Legislative Houses election petition tribunal, Yusuf Olaolu Ali, has prayed the tribunal to dismiss the petition filed by the PDP candidate, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq, over alleged faulty forensic report presented.
It is recalled that the election petition tribunal had earlier admitted a Forensic Report in evidence against Senator Bukola Saraki in the petition filed by the PDP candidate for Kwara Central Senatorial Election, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq.

The counsel to Senator Saraki, Yusuf Olaolu Ali, had observed that the report was dated March 28, 2014; a year before the contested poll was conducted.

Ali told Justice Josiah Majebi-led three man Legislative Houses Election Petition Tribunal that “the date shows the document was prepared in anticipation of the election.”

Saraki’s counsel, who also told the tribunal that the document was not addressed nor signed, described it as “incurable afflictions.”

Ali, therefore, prayed the tribunal to dismiss the petition.
Four Volumes of Report of Forensic Analysis carried on electoral materials used in four local governments in Kwara Central had been marked as ‘Exhibits P4’.

But A.O. Oladoke, who spoke for the petitioner’s lead counsel, Francis Obumse, attributed it to “typographical error.”

The PDP candidate is challenging Saraki’s victory on the election conducted on March 28, 2015, claiming that he had majority votes and he should be declared winner.

During the tribunal sitting at the weekend, counsels to the parties had adopted their final written addresses.
Counsels to Second and Third Respondent, Abdulwahab Bamidele and Alarape Salman (SAN) also agreed with Ali’s submission, asking the court to dismiss the petition.

However, the chairman of the tribunal told the counsels that judgement would be communicated to them shortly.