President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to open defence today against the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
Buhari had indicated that he would call over two-hundred-and-fifty witnesses to challenge Atiku’s claims of manipulation of result; use of Activate Technologies Limited, owned by a member of the APC, Mohammed Musa, for printing of PVCs; vote-buying through the Trader-Moni scheme; manipulation of security agencies and militarisation of election; manipulation of card readers; allegation of manipulation of accreditation and collation processes, among others.
The President had appealed that the Tribunal lacked the power to hear the petition of Atiku and PDP challenging his academic qualification to contest the election, by virtue of Section 31of the Electoral Act 2010, adding that it was only the Federal High Court that could determine the issue.
Buhari’s decision to open his defence was sequel to INEC’s declaration that it would not be calling any witness in the matter.
