Presidential poll: Witness says APGA colluded with INEC to stuff ballot boxes for Jonathan

By Ihuoma Chiedozie, Abuja Saturday, 17 Sep 2011

A member of the All Progressive Grand Alliance from Anambra State told the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on Friday in Abuja that officials of the party (APGA), colluded with the employees of the Independent National Electoral Commission to fraudulently stuff ballot boxes in favour of President Goodluck Jonathan during the last presidential election in the South-East.

The witness, Mr. Chuks Okeke, who testified for the Congress for Progressive Change, told the tribunal that APGA, which had adopted Jonathan as its candidate in the election, went beyond supporting him by illegally thumb printing and stuffing ballot boxes for him, contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Okeke was led in evidence by counsel for the CPC, Mr. Dipo Okpeseyi, SAN.

In his statement on oath, which he adopted at the hearing, Okeke maintained that he was an official of APGA in one of the wards in Onitsha, Anambra State, from “registration until recently.” He added that, even after his voluntary resignation, he continued to participate fully in the activities of the party.

Okeke averred in the statement on oath, which was obtained by journalists, that he was a founding member of APGA.

He said, “That I know as a fact that APGA party had resolved two weeks before the April 16, 2011 presidential election that the party shall adopt President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate. And to that end, all members of the party in the South-East including my state, Anambra State, were directed to vote for President Goodluck Jonathan in the April 16, 2011 presidential election.

“That about 8:00 o’clock in the morning of 16th April 2011, I was at the Metropolitan Secondary School, Okari Road, Inland Town, Onitsha, which is my polling unit, where I was accredited to vote in the election.

“That around 11 am of the same date, voters were becoming restless and impatient, urging officials of the first respondent (INEC) deployed to the polling unit to supervise the election, to commence the voting process. That I know as a fact, having inspected the voters register at the polling unit, that 562 persons were registered as voters in the polling unit.

“That by 12 noon on the same day 112 persons had been accredited to vote at the polling unit.

“However, by 12:30 pm only 97 were on queue to cast their votes, the counting having been done in my presence and to my hearing.”

SOURCE: Saturday Punch 17 Septeember 2011. http://punchontheweb.com/